In 2025, the Andorran Trade Mark and Patent Office (OMPA) processed 2,503 applications and collected €389,341.14. Trade marks accounted for 2,315 cases, or 92% of the total. OMPA links this volume to a growing awareness of the need to protect industrial property, an area directly connected to the value and identity of businesses.
What a trade mark is and why it needs protection
A trade mark is a sign that distinguishes one business’s goods or services from those of others. It may consist of a name, a logo or a combination of elements that enable the public to recognise their origin.
Over time, this identity becomes a focus for customer recognition and the business’s reputation. Protecting it helps safeguard the investment made in raising its profile and provides legal tools to act against unauthorised uses that infringe the owner’s rights.
What to consider before registering a trade mark
Effective protection begins before an application is filed. You need to decide who will own the trade mark, which sign will be registered and the goods or services for which protection is sought. It is also advisable to check for potential conflicts with earlier rights.
For example, a business that provides services and plans to sell goods under the same trade mark should consider both activities. This planning helps prevent the registration from leaving part of the business unprotected or the need to rethink the brand identity after launch.
How trade mark protection works in Andorra
Applications for registration are filed with OMPA in accordance with the Trade Mark Law. Protection lasts for ten years from the application date and may be renewed indefinitely for successive ten-year periods.
Protection is territorial: a trade mark registered in Andorra is protected in the Principality. If a business operates abroad or plans to expand internationally, it needs to plan protection in its target markets. The registration strategy must therefore take account of both current operations and expansion plans.
How a registered trade mark can create value
A recognised trade mark can form part of a business’s value and become relevant when the business is sold or new partners join. The law also allows it to be assigned or licensed.
This enables another business to use the trade mark on agreed terms, for example in return for payment. Clearly identified rights make it easier to negotiate these agreements and define the authorised uses.
An opportunity for Andorra looking ahead to 2027
Trade marks and patents are intangible assets that can generate value without taking up land or requiring physical storage. Their registration is not subject to annual numerical quotas, but to the legal requirements applicable to each right.
Looking ahead to 2027, growing interest in these assets offers opportunities to develop businesses focused on their exploitation and management. For Andorra, this is a path towards diversification based on knowledge and specialist services, suited to the size of the country.
Trade mark advice from Augé Legal & Fiscal
At Augé Legal & Fiscal, we advise you so that your trade mark protection is tailored to your business. We support you with preliminary checks and registration applications, as well as renewals, assignments and licensing agreements.
Our team provides comprehensive intellectual property advice, covering the registration and protection of trade marks in Andorra and European Union trade marks, as well as domain name and patent registration. We coordinate the protection strategy according to each project’s needs and markets, and act to defend rights in the event of disputes. Our aim is to preserve your business identity and intangible assets as your business evolves.
Would you like to register a trade mark or check whether your current protection covers your business activities? Contact our team.
