Groningen

How can you protect your corporate identity?

 For years, the most famous slogan of any Dutch province or city has been "Er gaat niets boven Groningen" (Nothing can top Groningen; which is true – at least in the geographical sense – as Groningen is the northernmost province of the Netherlands). This slogan is the result of original marketing, something in which Groningen excels. The current corporate identity is proof that provinces and municipalities can be very original when it comes to images, fonts and logos. Groningen is so original that it has even developed its own font: Gronika!

Typografy Gronika

 But how can you protect all that? Knijff Trademark Attorneys advised Groningen, and recommended a mix of trademark and design registration. The name Gronika and the logos were registered as trademarks; but both the logos and the entire font were also registered as a design. This combination provides broad protection and is a powerful asset, especially as a design registration (unlike a trademark registration) does not need to be filed for products or services, but having it ensures that the design is protected for all types of merchandising and products.

If you are curious about Groningen or have not been there for a while, we can confirm that it is a fantastic, lively city surrounded by beautiful countryside. That's its strength. Be sure to visit Forum Groningen, which opened in November 2019. This striking building is a real asset to the city.