(Publ. 12 FEB 2015) The amount of trademark applications has increased by 43 percent (in Sweden) the last three months compared with the same period last year, according to Sepaf’s Innovation Index for December 2014.

– IP rights, such as trademarks and patents, can represent up to 80 percent of a company’s total value. It is becoming more obvious to Swedish companies to ensure that these assets are protected. In mature markets, competition takes place between firms often through brands rather than through the content of products and services. Trademark normally have a closer connection to the market than patents and designs and can, therefore, be read as a positive economic indicator, says Mats Lundberg, spokesperson of Sepaf and Managing Partner at Groth & Co.

There has previously been an increase in trademark protection, but not as strong as the current trend. Design protection lessened by 23 percent and patent protection was consistent. In December, Swedish companies filed for 1 067 patent protections, 139 design protections and 326 trademark protections in Sweden and internationally. Long-term indexes show strong development of applications for trademark protection.

Information about Sepaf can be found here

Groth & Co, together with INTA, organizes the seminar “Brand Valuation from three perspectives” Pre-INTA Annual Meeting – read more here