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The Norwegian Industrial Property Office is the authority for patents, trademarks, and designs. There are also other intangible assets, such as copyright, trade secrets, domain names, and plant breeder's rights.
Search in databases to see if your idea is new
Have you come up with a new idea for, for example, a product or a logo and want to find out if you can obtain the rights to it? Then it makes sense to investigate if someone else has already had the same idea as you.
Common questions about searching in databases
If others have a similar or identical idea to yours, this could prevent you from using what you want to develop. It's essential to check this before investing too much time and money into the idea.
Thorough research through online searches and in national and international databases can also provide valuable information about market opportunities and good ideas, as well as inspiration for further development.
By searching in databases, you can:
- Check if there are identical or similar trademarks, patents, or designs in Norway before investing time and money into development and marketing
- Examine what your competitors are protecting in the Norwegian or international market
- Investigate the industrial rights a company holds before investing in the company
- Find detailed information about cases such as descriptions, images, letters, payments, and more.
Yes, it is free to search in the databases linked here.
If you plan to apply for a patent for an invention, it is particularly important to conduct a thorough search in international databases and sources. You cannot obtain a patent for something that already exists, regardless of where it exists in the world. An invention may, for example, have been disclosed in a previous patent application or mentioned on a website.
Search in the Norwegian Industrial Property Office's (NIPO) registers
Find trademarks, patents, and designs in Norway
- Search in NIPO's registers In our own database, you can find trademarks, designs, and patents registered in Norway. You can search by, among other things, company name, product, inventor, owner, and more. You can also conduct an image search to see if a trademark resembles the logo you have created.
- Conduct an image search, for example, a logo Here you can search for similar figurative elements. Please note that an image search does not search for text within the image.
Search for other registered rights
- navnesok.no Here you can check if domain names, business names, and trademarks are available - all in one search.
- The Brønnøysund Register Centre Here you can check if the name is in use as a business name.
- norid.no Here you can check if the name is in use as a Norwegian domain name under the .no domain.
Don't limit your search
It is wise to search for different words and combinations of words to get as broad search results as possible. Your search results provide a good indication if there are already rights that could prevent you from obtaining rights to your idea.
International databases - Trademarks and designs
International databases - Trademarks
Find out which rights are registered internationally for trademarks and designs.
- WIPO Madrid Monitor Stay updated with your international registrations. Follow the status of your international application or trademark registration; access detailed information about all trademarks registered through the Madrid system; and keep an eye on competitors' trademarks.
- WIPO Global Brand Database Search for trademark applications, appellations of origin, emblems, and international non-proprietary names. Covers 58,119,885 records from 75 data sources.
- TMview TMview is a platform where trademarks from all EU countries, Norway, the USA, and several other countries, in addition to the EUIPO and WIPO, are made available. One search tool for all participating countries available in multiple languages.
- TMclass TMclass helps you search for, classify, and translate "goods and services" when protecting a trademark. The EU / EUIPO's harmonized database represents an international collaboration where Norway has been involved since 2021. (The Norwegian product selector is slightly simpler but provides access to all terms in Norwegian and English.)
- eSearch plus eSearch plus is EUIPO's own database where you can find trademarks registered in the EU.
International databases - Design
- WIPO Global Design Database The Global Design Database covers international design applications from WIPO and some other countries. Functionality is identical to Hague Express, which only contains international designs.
- DesignView DesignView is a platform where you can search for designs from EU countries, Norway, the USA, and several other countries, in addition to EUIPO (EU design) and WIPO. One search tool for all participating countries freely available in multiple languages.
Search in international databases - Patents
International databases - Patents
- Espacenet In Espacenet, you can search more than 120 million patent publications from around the world. You can search in the EPO's own database of European patents, search the entire database ("Worldwide"), or choose access via another country's patent office.
- Patentscope The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is a worldwide system for simplified filing and processing of patent applications. WIPO offers searches in international patent applications (PCT applications) and some other countries.
- Google Patents Google Patents contains over 120 million patent publications from over 100 patent offices around the world, as well as technical documents and books.
- USPTO: Patents The United States Patent and Trademark Office offers full-text search of its patents from 1976 onwards
Frequently Asked Questions
Get an overview of the most common questions about intangible assets and rights, and how to proceed with registering these.
Trademark - name and logo
A trademark is a sign that distinguishes you from your competitors and helps customers recognize your products.
Patent - inventions
A new technical solution, process, or method can be highly valuable. Can your idea be patented?
Design and appearance
The entire or parts of the physical appearance of a product can be protected through obtaining exclusive rights.
Announcements in the Gazette
The Gazette is a publication that contains notifications of published rights applied for in Norway within the field of patents, trademarks, and designs.
Search in the Gazette
Order a preliminary examination
Do you find it difficult to navigate and get an overview of all registered rights that may affect your idea? Then you can let us conduct a preliminary examination for you. Preliminary search is a paid service.
Read more about our preliminary search service
Have you made a plan for your assets?
Did you know that as much as 90 % of the assets in innovative companies can be intellectual property? It is therefore important that these values are managed correctly. A well-thought-out strategy is as important to commercial success as financing, marketing and sales.
Learn more about IP strategy