A Swissreg trademark search is the essential first step before filing any trademark in Switzerland. Swissreg is the official online database of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IGE/IPI), providing free public access to all Swiss trademark registrations, patent applications, and design registrations. Identical or confusingly similar prior registrations are a primary ground for opposition and invalidity — running a Swissreg search before filing saves time, fees, and potential legal disputes. Swissreg and ZEFIX (the commercial register search) are complementary tools, not alternatives: Swissreg covers registered trademarks, while ZEFIX covers company names. A mark that clears Swissreg may still conflict with an existing company name on ZEFIX — and vice versa. Professional clearance requires checking both.
What Swissreg Contains
Swissreg is the authoritative register for all Swiss intellectual property filed with IGE/IPI:
- Trademarks: All registered and pending Swiss word marks, figurative marks (logos), combined marks, 3D marks, sound marks, and other trademark types
- Patents: Swiss national patent applications and registrations; validated European patents designating Switzerland
- Designs: Registered industrial designs and design applications
- Geographic indications: Registered Swiss geographic indications and appellations of origin
All records in Swissreg are public. Owner names, addresses, filing dates, goods and services covered, status, and scanned documents are accessible. For broader IP protection in Switzerland, Swissreg is the starting point for any clearance search.
Accessing Swissreg
Swissreg is available at swissreg.ch — no login or account is required for basic searches. Access is free.
The database is maintained in all four Swiss national languages (German, French, Italian, Romansh) with an English interface.
Step-by-Step: How to Search Swiss Trademarks on Swissreg
Step 1 — Go to Trademark Search
Go to swissreg.ch and select “Trademarks” from the main menu.
Step 2 — Choose Your Search Type
Swissreg offers several search modes:
Word search (Wortsuche):
- Search for trademark by exact word, word fragment, or phonetic equivalent
- Most commonly used — type the mark you want to register and search for identical or similar existing marks
- Use truncation: “APPLE*” finds all marks beginning with “APPLE”
Owner search:
- Find all trademarks owned by a specific person or company
- Useful for competitor trademark portfolio monitoring
Application number search:
- Look up a specific trademark by its IGE/IPI application or registration number
Nice classification search:
- Filter by goods and services class (Classes 1-45)
- Combine with word search to narrow results to your industry
International registration search:
- Find WIPO Madrid international registrations designating Switzerland
Step 3 — Interpret Search Results
Each result shows:
| Field | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Registration number | Unique IGE/IPI identifier |
| Status | ”Registered” / “Pending” / “Lapsed” / “Opposed” |
| Filing date | When the application was filed |
| Registration date | When the mark was formally registered |
| Owner | Name and address of trademark owner |
| Goods/services | What the mark covers (described by Nice class and goods/services list) |
| Mark representation | The trademark itself (word, logo, image) |
Status meanings:
- Registered: Active, protected trademark — highest risk for your filing
- Pending: Application filed, examination in progress — still a risk (prior rights from filing date)
- Opposed: Third party has filed opposition — outcome pending
- Lapsed: Registration not renewed — no longer active protection
Step 4 — Assess Similarity
A confusingly similar mark — not just an identical mark — can block your registration or create infringement risk. Similarity is assessed across three dimensions:
1. Visual similarity: Do the marks look alike? For logos, assess shape, colour, and overall impression.
2. Phonetic similarity: Do the marks sound alike when spoken? (e.g., “Luxor” and “Luksur”)
3. Conceptual similarity: Do the marks convey the same meaning or idea?
And: Are the goods and services identical or similar? A “SUMMIT” trademark for shoes and a “SUMMIT” trademark for software are less likely to conflict than two marks in the same class.
Using TMview for Cross-Border Checks
Swissreg only covers Swiss trademark registrations. Before filing a Swiss trademark, also check:
TMview (tmdn.org): The EU’s cross-border trademark search tool covering EUIPO (EU trademarks) and national IP offices across Europe including Switzerland. A single search on TMview checks registrations across 60+ territories.
WIPO Global Brand Database (branddb.wipo.int): Covers Madrid international registrations designating Switzerland, and many national registers worldwide.
A thorough pre-filing search uses all three databases:
- Swissreg (Swiss national)
- TMview (EU + European national)
- WIPO Global Brand Database (international)
Swissreg Search for Patents
For patents, Swissreg allows:
- Search by applicant name
- Search by inventor name
- Search by IPC (International Patent Classification) code
- Search by application or publication number
For thorough patent prior art searches, also use:
- Espacenet (epo.org/espacenet): The EPO’s free patent database covering 100+ million documents worldwide
- Google Patents: Free worldwide patent search
Swissreg Search for Designs
For industrial designs, Swissreg allows:
- Search by owner name
- Search by Locarno classification (product type)
- Search by filing date range
- View design images (scanned from original filing)
What to Do After Your Swissreg Search
If no conflicts found: Proceed to file your trademark registration in Switzerland with IGE/IPI. A clean Swissreg search does not guarantee registration — IGE/IPI may raise objections during examination, or a third party may oppose during the 3-month publication period.
Register your domain before SHAB publication. When a trademark or company name is published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SHAB/SOGC), automated bots operated by domain squatters scrape new entries and register matching .ch, .com, and other TLDs within hours. We have seen this repeatedly — a client files a trademark, it passes examination and is published, and by the time the registration certificate arrives, the corresponding domain has been registered by a third party demanding a transfer fee. Secure your domain names before filing the trademark application, not after.
If identical or similar marks found:
- Assess whether the goods and services overlap significantly with your intended classes
- If overlap is significant: consult an IP attorney on clearance options, co-existence agreements, or abandoning the mark
- If overlap is minimal (different classes, unrelated goods and services): filing may still be viable
Professional trademark clearance searches: Swissreg keyword searches are not a substitute for a professional clearance opinion. An IP attorney will conduct broader searches — including company names on ZEFIX, domain name registrations across relevant TLDs, and unregistered rights established through prior use — and assess similarity risk across all three dimensions (visual, phonetic, conceptual). The cost of a professional clearance opinion (typically CHF 1’500-3,000) is a fraction of the cost of defending an opposition or rebranding after launch.
Case Study: The Swissreg Search That Missed a Conflict
A Berlin-based DTC brand planned to launch in Switzerland under the name “ALPINA PURE” for skincare products (Class 3). The founder conducted a Swissreg word search for “ALPINA PURE” — zero results. Filed the trademark application with the IGE. CHF 550 paid. Application passed formal examination.
Three weeks after SHAB publication: Opposition filed by Alpina Watches (a well-known Swiss brand with registrations in multiple classes, including Class 3 for related luxury goods). Opposition fee: CHF 800. The word “ALPINA” alone — not just the exact phrase “ALPINA PURE” — conflicted with the earlier mark under the likelihood of confusion test.
What went wrong:
- The founder searched for the exact phrase only, not for component words
- No phonetic similarity search was conducted
- The Swissreg search was not supplemented by a TMview search (which would have shown the ALPINA registrations across Europe)
- No professional clearance opinion was obtained
Resolution: After 14 months of opposition proceedings, the application was rejected. The founder had already spent CHF 25’000 on Swiss branding, packaging, and marketing materials under the “ALPINA PURE” name. Total loss: approximately CHF 30’000 (legal fees + wasted marketing spend).
The prevention that was not done: A professional trademark clearance opinion (CHF 1’500-3’000) would have identified the ALPINA conflict in the first week. The search would have covered: (1) exact matches, (2) component words, (3) phonetic equivalents, (4) conceptual similarity, (5) ZEFIX company names, and (6) TMview cross-border registrations. Total cost of prevention: under CHF 3’000. Total cost of the mistake: CHF 30’000+.
Decision Flow: What to Search and Where
Step 1 — Start with Swissreg Search for your exact mark, individual words within the mark, phonetic variants, and conceptual equivalents. Filter by relevant Nice classes. Check the status column: “Registered” marks are the highest risk; “Pending” marks also have priority.
Step 2 — Search ZEFIX Check the Swiss Commercial Register for company names that match or are similar to your proposed mark. A company name registered before your trademark filing can block your application — even if it does not appear in Swissreg.
Step 3 — Search TMview Check EU and European national trademark registrations. An EUTM does not cover Switzerland, but a mark registered in the EU may be the basis for a Madrid Protocol designation of Switzerland — and the holder may oppose your Swiss filing on the basis of a well-known mark or Paris Convention rights.
Step 4 — Search WIPO Global Brand Database Check international registrations (Madrid System) that may designate or have already been designated in Switzerland.
Step 5 — Check domain registrations Search .ch, .com, and relevant TLDs. A matching domain registered to a third party may indicate prior use or brand conflict.
If all five searches are clean: Proceed to filing, but understand that no search guarantees registration. Unregistered prior use rights (Art. 14 MSchG) can still create conflicts.
If any search raises a flag: Stop. Get a professional clearance opinion before filing. The CHF 1’500-3’000 cost of the opinion is always cheaper than the CHF 5’000-30’000 cost of an opposition or rebranding.
Friction Block: What Swissreg Does Not Tell You
Limitation 1 — No phonetic or conceptual search. Swissreg performs exact text matching only. It will not flag “LUXOR” when you search for “LUKSUR”, or “BERG” when you search for “MOUNTAIN”. Likelihood of confusion under Swiss trademark law is assessed across visual, phonetic, AND conceptual dimensions. A Swissreg keyword search covers only the first.
Limitation 2 — No unregistered rights. Prior use rights under Art. 14 MSchG do not appear in any database. A party that has used a mark commercially in Switzerland before your filing date may have defensible prior rights — even without a registration. No search tool can identify these.
Limitation 3 — No company name conflicts. Swissreg covers trademarks only. Company names in the Commercial Register (searchable on ZEFIX) can conflict with trademarks under Swiss company name law (Firmenrecht). A complete clearance search requires checking both databases.
Limitation 4 — No cross-border coverage. An EU trademark or an international registration designating Switzerland will not appear in Swissreg until the Swiss designation is processed. TMview and the WIPO Global Brand Database fill this gap — but only if you search them.
Limitation 5 — Status lag. While Swissreg is updated daily, opposition decisions and register changes may take days to appear. A mark shown as “Registered” may have been cancelled that morning. For time-critical searches (e.g., before a SHAB publication deadline), verify the status directly with the IGE/IPI.
For a broader overview, see our guide to Trademark & Design Protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
We searched Swissreg ourselves and found nothing. Is that enough before filing?
Almost certainly not. Swissreg performs exact text matching only — it does not assess phonetic similarity, conceptual similarity, or component word conflicts. It does not cover company names (ZEFIX), unregistered prior use rights, or cross-border registrations (TMview, WIPO). A clean Swissreg search is a necessary first step, but not a sufficient clearance. Professional clearance opinions (CHF 1’500-3’000) cover all five search dimensions and save CHF 5’000-30’000 in potential opposition costs.
Does Swissreg show company names that conflict with trademarks?
No — Swissreg only shows trademark registrations. Company names in the Commercial Register are searchable through ZEFIX, not Swissreg. The two databases are complementary: a trademark clearance search should always include both. Conflicts between company names and trademarks are a distinct area of Swiss law (Firmenrecht), and a company name registered years before your trademark filing can block it even if it never appears in Swissreg.
How current is the Swissreg database?
Swissreg is updated daily with new filings, registrations, and status changes. It is the authoritative real-time record maintained by IGE/IPI.
Is using Swissreg free?
Yes. Swissreg is a free public database maintained by IGE/IPI. No registration or account is required for basic searches. Access is available 24/7 at swissreg.ch in German, French, Italian, Romansh, and English.
What is the difference between Swissreg and TMview?
Swissreg covers only Swiss national trademark registrations filed with IGE/IPI. TMview is the EU’s cross-border search tool covering EUIPO (EU trademarks) and national IP offices across 60+ territories including Switzerland. A thorough pre-filing search should use both databases plus the WIPO Global Brand Database.
Can I file a trademark directly through Swissreg?
No. Swissreg is a search and information database only. To file a Swiss trademark application, you must submit it to IGE/IPI through their separate e-trademark filing portal or by post. Filing fees start at CHF 550 for one Nice class, with CHF 100 for each additional class.
How long does Swiss trademark registration take?
From filing to registration, the process typically takes 6-8 months if no objections or oppositions arise. IGE/IPI examines the application within approximately 4 months. If registered, the mark is published in the Trademark Gazette, and a 3-month opposition period follows. The registration is valid for 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely.
What is a Nice classification in trademark searching?
The Nice Classification is an international system that categorises goods and services into 45 classes (1-34 for goods, 35-45 for services). When searching Swissreg, filtering by Nice class narrows results to your specific industry. Trademark protection is class-specific — an identical mark in a different class may not create a conflict.
Does a clean Swissreg search guarantee my trademark will be registered?
No. A clean search reduces risk but does not guarantee registration. IGE/IPI may raise objections during examination — for example, if the mark is descriptive or lacks distinctiveness. Third parties may also file an opposition during the 3-month publication period based on their own prior rights, including rights not visible in Swissreg.
Should I search Swissreg before choosing a company name?
Yes. Even if you are registering a company name rather than a trademark, a Swissreg search is advisable. If your company name infringes an existing trademark, the trademark owner can demand you change it. Check both Swissreg for trademarks and Zefix for existing company names in the commercial register.
Next Steps: Request a Free Assessment
Whether you are preparing a trademark filing, monitoring competitor registrations, or assessing infringement risk, a professional search goes beyond what Swissreg alone provides.
Morgan Hartley Consulting advises on trademark registration in Switzerland, clearance searches, opposition proceedings, and broader IP protection strategies. We work with IGE/IPI regularly and can assess your position before you file.
For a direct conversation about your trademark situation, request a free assessment.
Morgan Hartley Consulting (Morgan Hartley Consulting) Baarerstrasse 135, 6300 Zug, Switzerland Phone: +41 44 51 52 592 | Email: [email protected]