IP Searches
A variety of searches can be undertaken either online or by making the appropriate application to the Intellectual Property Office. This section provides an overall view of the search options and services.
Searches may be applied for by clients for a variety of reasons:
To find out the current information held on the Intellectual Property Register regarding a particular trade mark, patent or design right.
To find if there are any earlier and potentially conflicting intellectual property rights that are already registered in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
To ensure that rights owners have maintained and documented the protection of their intellectual property as it relates to this jurisdiction.
GTM S - Request for a Trade Mark Search and Advisory Service (SAS) Report (Available at the link below)
Searching the Trade Marks Register
A search of the trade marks register may be performed by clients for a number of reasons and can be performed in a number of different ways. For example a declaration that a search of the register has been performed is required under section 5 of the Trade Marks (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2006 when making an application to register a trade mark.
Clients can search the trade marks register by following the link on the right hand side of this page. The brochure below details how one can go about searching the trade marks register using the online services portal along with important issues that you may want to consider when performing your search.
For a formal record of a search of the register you can apply to the Intellectual Property Office to have a member of staff conduct a search of the trade marks register for you. This can be done by completing application form G TM S and submitting it to the Intellectual Property Office along with payment of the appropriate fee. A member of staff will then conduct a thorough search of the register based on the search criteria entered on the application form. You will receive an official statement of the discoveries made based on these criteria for your records.
In addition to the information held on the electronic registers the Intellectual Property Office also holds historic ledger documents, which may need to be referred to from time to time to obtain a full case history. For example, when searching for marks first registered before June 1st 2006, you may wish to contain a record of the Royal Court documents as a supplement to the electronic information.
Searching the Design Register
Currently a request for a search of the design register can be made using the appropriate application form and making relevant payment.
Searching the Patent Register
In due course, a search of patents registered in the Bailiwick of Guernsey will be available.
The full patent register will be provided on the appropriate pages of the website and specific search requests will be available by completing the relevant application form and submitting it together with fees to the Intellectual Property Office.
