Trademark Squatting: How Creators Can Protect Their Brand Internationally
You spend years building your name, your voice, your visual identity, your brand. Then one day, you try to file a trademark internationally… and it’s already taken.
Welcome to trademark squatting, the growing problem where opportunists register a mark before you can, often in foreign jurisdictions, then block your use or demand payment for access to it.
In countries like China, where first-to-file systems dominate, this has become a full-blown industry. Even globally known brands like Tesla, New Balance, and Apple have been forced to fight for control over their own names. Creators and small businesses? They’re often out of luck, or out of budget.
The squatter playbook is simple:
- Monitor trending brands, artists, or rising creators
- File their names or logos in foreign countries or unused classes
- Wait for the original owner to grow, then sue, extort, or license it back
This isn’t science fiction. It’s happening every week, especially on platforms like Amazon, Etsy, and international Shopify storefronts.
WIPO’s recent reports confirm the spike: cross-border e-commerce has outpaced cross-border trademark filings, leaving thousands of brands exposed to squatters who move faster than the creatives behind them.
Here’s what you can do to prevent trademark squatting:
- File early, not just locally. Don’t wait until expansion, register your core marks in key countries using the Madrid Protocol or with local agents.
- Monitor foreign filings. Tools like WIPO’s Global Brand Database help track attempts to squat your identity abroad.
- Respond quickly. Many countries offer limited opposition windows. Don’t sleep on them.
- Include IP clauses in your contracts. Especially if you’re working with overseas manufacturers, designers, or distributors.
Book a Creative Consult to protect your work before someone else profits from it. And for practical tools built for border-crossing brands, visit The Creative Docket.