CTM as core of a European protective system
The Community trade mark ("CTM"), a product of the Office for Harmonization of the Internal Market of the European Community ("OHIM"), may be obtained for a sign, for which has either been applied directly at the OHIM, or for which has been applied previously through a national office. You may also apply for a CTM based on a sign, which has already been filed at a national office of a country being party to the Paris Convention ("PC") or to the Agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property ("TRIPs Agreement"). In this case, a right of priority may be claimed for a period of six months. Unlike the IR mark, the CTM does not allow "custom-made" solutions in each member country of the European Community.