Came up with a good brand name? Check it first!

Before registering a trademark: conduct preliminary research. The BOIP and EUIPO registers contain millions of trademarks; a conflict with an older trademark in the same class leads to opposition or refusal. But also: domain names, social media handles, the Chamber of Commerce Trade Register, and international databases. An hour of thorough searching prevents years of misery. Below: tools, steps, and how Maya shoots down one name and moves on to a better one.

The short answer

• Trademark registers: BOIP (Benelux), EUIPO (EU), WIPO (worldwide).
• Trade Register: Chamber of Commerce for existing company names.
• Domains: .nl, .com, .eu — at hosting providers or who.is.
• Social media: Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok.
• General: Google, Wikipedia, industry databases.

Why check?

Without preliminary investigation:

• BOIP/EUIPO refuses trademark due to conflict — registration fees waived.
• Opposition by holder of earlier trademark — defense €1,500-€10,000.
• Confusion with other companies in the market.
• Domain unavailable — unusable for website.
• Social media handles occupied — lower online presence.

Searching for an hour prevents these problems.

Step 1: BOIP Register (Benelux)

Visit register.boip.int or the register search function. Search:

• Exact brand name.
• Variants with spelling differences.
• Phonetically similar names.
• Filter by relevant classes (Nice classification).

Assessing results: in the same class + similar brand → potential conflict. Different class → usually no problem.

Step 2: EUIPO Register (EU)

Visit euipo.europa.eu/eSearch. EU trademarks have a broader scope than Benelux. Search using the same variants as at BOIP. For an EU trademark in the same class: conflict also in Benelux.

WIPO Madrid (worldwide)

For global plans: wipo.int/madrid/monitor — international trademarks via Madrid system. EU applications are also visible here by country.

Step 3: Chamber of Commerce Trade Register

Search for trade names on kvk.nl/zoeken. Existing company names in the Netherlands may have trade name rights — protected without formal registration (Art. 5 Trade Name Act).

Existing company with the same name in the same industry and region: conflict. Different industry or different region: usually no problem.

Step 4: Domain names

Check .nl, .com, .eu and possibly country-specific TLDs:

• SIDN (sidn.nl) for .nl availability.
• Who.is for .com, .eu, and others.
• NameCheap or TransIP for direct registration.

Occupied by a cybersquatter? Ask for a sale price or go through a UDRP procedure (€1,500+ for recovery).

Step 5: Social media

Check handle availability at:

• Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook.
• TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Snapchat (depending on target audience).
• Behance, Dribbble (designers).

Tools like namechk.com check multiple platforms simultaneously.

Step 6: General searches

• Google the name with “” — exact match.
• Check results for foreign meanings.
• Wikipedia for historical or cultural connotations.
• Industry databases for competitors.

Step 7: Evaluate similar brands

If a similar brand is found:

• Same class: almost always conflict.
• Other class: usually no problem (unless “well-known brand” status — Apple, Coca-Cola).
• Similar but not identical: depends on “risk of association” — consumers might be confused.
• International presence: an older trademark in the EU with EU recognition may also be blocked in the Benelux.

Maya's check

Maya wants to register “MayaDesign”:

• BOIP class 35/42: no exact match, two “MayaXxx” names in other classes — no conflict.
• EUIPO class 35/42: 1 “Maja Design” in class 25 (clothing) — other sector.
• Commercial Register: 3 companies with “Maya” in the name, no design — no conflict.
• mayadesign.com occupied by Indonesian company, mayadesign.nl available.
• Instagram @mayadesign taken (50k followers, US), @mayadesignstudio available.
• Conclusion: available for Benelux/EU registration; go for mayadesign.nl + @mayadesignstudio.

When to use a branding agency?

Do the first pass yourself — free and educational. If in doubt or have international plans: a branding agency (€250-€1,500) conducts more in-depth preliminary research including:

• Phonetic similarity analysis.
• Visual similarity (trademarks).
• Assessment of the risk of association according to case law.
• Advice on class choice.
• International databases (USA, Asia, etc.).

Honest recommendation

One hour of thorough preliminary research prevents years of misery — do it yourself for simple Benelux trademarks, engage a trademark agency for EU/international plans or complex situations. In case of doubt regarding a conflict: have a trademark lawyer review it for €250 before filing — prevents €5,000+ in opposition costs.

For other topics: coming up with a good brand name, trademark registration and trademark register.

Frequently Asked Questions