Trademark Search in Colombia: How to Check Availability

To conduct a trademark search in Colombia, consult the Colombian Trademark Office database (Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio - SIC) through SIPI. Search for both identical and similar trademarks, review the goods or services they cover, and check the status of each relevant application or registration. A search helps identify potential obstacles before filing, but it does not guarantee registration.

Where to search for trademarks in Colombia

You can search the official SIC trademark database in SIPI to find trademark applications and registrations in Colombia. The public word search is free. It is different from requesting a paid background search or obtaining a legal opinion on whether a trademark is registrable.

A trademark search is not a mandatory filing requirement. It is nevertheless advisable before investing in a name, packaging or advertising, as an earlier application or registration may affect your plans.

How to conduct a trademark search in Colombia

Identify your goods or services

Start by defining exactly what you intend to sell or provide under the trademark. This determines the scope of the search and helps identify the relevant classes under the Nice Classification.

You can use TMclass to look up goods and services. Review the actual descriptions, rather than choosing a class solely by its heading.

Practical tip: Do not limit your review to one class. Goods or services in different classes may still be related. Under Article 151 of Andean Community Decision 486, class numbers alone do not determine whether goods or services are similar or different.

Search for the name and its variations

In SIPI, use the distinctive signs search and the available search criteria to look for your proposed trademark. Begin with the complete name, then expand the search to its distinctive words and relevant variations.

• Check alternative spellings and words with similar pronunciation.
• Search the main word separately when the name includes several words.
• Look beyond exact matches: a different spelling does not necessarily prevent confusion.
• Review earlier applications as well as registered trademarks.

If your trademark includes a logo, a word search alone does not assess its graphic elements. A figurative search may also be appropriate.

Read the relevant trademark records

Open the records that appear relevant and review the trademark, applicant or owner, filing information, goods or services, and current procedural status. Where necessary, consult the documents in the file to understand the record.

The key question is not simply whether the same name appears. It is whether an earlier right could prevent registration of your proposed trademark for the goods or services you intend to protect. Similar signs covering related goods or services may create a risk of confusion or association.

Check validity and renewal information

Do not assume that a trademark becomes available as soon as its displayed expiration date passes. Article 153 of Andean Community Decision 486 provides a six-month grace period after expiration to request renewal, during which the registration remains fully valid.

Review the current status and any renewal filings. Even if a registration has lapsed, that fact alone does not establish that the proposed trademark is free of other legal obstacles. For more on this issue, see our guide to trademark renewal in Colombia.

How to interpret the search results

• No relevant results: This is a useful starting point, but check spelling variations, related goods or services and any graphic elements before drawing a conclusion.
• An identical trademark appears: Review its status and scope of protection. The name alone is not enough to decide whether it prevents your application.
• Similar trademarks appear: Assess the similarities between the signs together with the relationship between their goods or services.
• A potentially conflicting application is pending: Review its filing information and progress. An application does not need to have reached registration to be relevant to your assessment.

A clear search result is not an approval from the SIC. The authority examines registrability during the application process. The absence of a conflicting result also does not resolve every legal requirement that applies to the sign itself.

Professional trademark search and legal assessment

Interpreting the results often requires more than comparing names. Our trademark attorneys can review the relevant records and assess the feasibility of seeking registration in Colombia.

The analysis addresses:

• The most relevant earlier trademark applications and registrations identified.
• A legal assessment of the proposed trademark and potential conflicts.
• The main risks affecting the application.
• Alternative names, adjustments or other legal options where appropriate.

Once the search has been assessed, the next step is to define the filing strategy. Our guide explains the steps for registering a trademark in Colombia.

To request a trademark search, complete the form below.