In Colombia, if you do not renew your trademark when due, the registration expires, and you lose the exclusive right to it. This means that any other person could use it or register something similar. A trademark is one of a company’s most valuable assets because it conveys identity, trust, and quality to your clients. However, all that effort and reputation can be lost due to a simple oversight in managing your registration.
Trademark Registration Regulations in Colombia
In Colombia, when you register your trademark (whether it’s a name, logo, slogan, or any other distinctive sign), that registration is valid for 10 years. During that time, you are the only one who can use it, sell it, or even authorize others to use it. After this period, if you do not renew, you automatically lose that right, and your trademark becomes unprotected.
This is to ensure a dynamic and flexible Intellectual Property legal system that allows new market participants to enter with their respective distinctive signs.
How to renew a trademark, and what does it cost?
The law allows you to renew your trademark within 6 months before the 10-year validity period expires. If you miss the deadline, you still have an additional 6-month grace period, but this process costs more and is not always automatically approved. The application must be made directly to the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce, which will evaluate whether or not to grant the late renewal.
How much does it cost to renew a trademark?
Renewing a trademark is neither automatic nor free. Even if you submit the application on time, the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce reviews your case before approving another 10 years of validity. This process has an official cost that varies depending on the application: in 2025, for example, it is $702,000 pesos if done within the normal period and $958,000 pesos if submitted during the grace period.
In conclusion, companies must maintain good control over their trademarks and other intellectual property assets. A simple oversight or forgetfulness can mean the loss of valuable rights, which would open the door for competitors to appropriate your name, reputation, and the positioning you have worked so hard to build, as we have seen in known cases in Colombia.
Keeping your registrations up to date is an investment in the security and growth of your business.
