What Happens if You Forget to Renew Your Swiss Trademark? Legal and Business Consequences Explained
Introduction
Protecting your brand through a Swiss trademark is a smart business move — but many entrepreneurs overlook one important step: renewal. Every Swiss trademark must be renewed every 10 years through the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI).
Missing that deadline can have serious legal and commercial consequences. Here’s what happens if you forget to renew your trademark, and how you can protect your rights before it’s too late.
To learn more about registering and maintaining trademarks in Switzerland, visit our Swiss Trademark Services page.
Trademark Validity in Switzerland
A Swiss trademark remains valid for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed for additional 10-year periods indefinitely. Renewal requires a simple application and the payment of a renewal fee to the IPI (Institut Fédéral de la Propriété Intellectuelle) before the expiry date.
Failing to renew your Swiss trademark in time means you lose your exclusive rights to that mark. Here’s what that can mean for your business:
Competitors can register or use a similar name or logo.
You can no longer enforce trademark rights against infringement.
Your brand reputation and goodwill can be compromised.
Rebuilding your brand may become costly and time-consuming.
Once the registration lapses, the protection your business depends on effectively disappears.
The Six-Month Grace Period
Swiss law provides a six-month grace period after the expiry date. During this time, you can still renew your trademark by paying an additional late renewal fee.
However, once this period ends, the trademark is deleted from the official register and cannot be restored. To regain protection, you must file a new trademark application, with no guarantee of approval if another company has already registered a similar mark.
Why Trademark Expiry Can Hurt Your Business
Losing a registered trademark can trigger a chain reaction of negative consequences:
Loss of brand value and identity.
Customer confusion and diminished trust.
High rebranding costs — from new domains to packaging.
Weakened legal position in Switzerland and abroad.
For established businesses, the cost of losing a trademark is far higher than the cost of keeping it renewed.
How to Avoid Missing Trademark Renewal Deadlines
Proactive management is the key to uninterrupted protection. Follow these best practices:
Keep a digital record of your registration and expiry dates.
Set automatic reminders at least six months before expiry.
Entrust your renewals to a professional Swiss partner like SwissFirm.
Maintain a registered business address in Switzerland to receive all IPI notifications promptly.
Protect Your Intellectual Property with SwissFirm
At SwissFirm, we assist entrepreneurs and established companies in safeguarding their brands through administrative compliance, company formation, and registered address solutions.
Our experts ensure that your Swiss trademarks, company setup, and accounting obligations are all handled efficiently and on time.
If your trademark renewal date is approaching — or you’ve already missed it — SwissFirm can help you restore compliance and prevent the loss of your brand identity.
👉 Contact us today to protect your trademark and business assets in Switzerland.