How to Register a Trademark in Malaysia for Your Ecommerce Brand

Someone just copied your brand name on Shopee. They are selling knockoffs under a name that looks almost identical to yours, and there is nothing you can do about it.

This happens to Malaysian ecommerce sellers more often than you think. Without a registered trademark, you have no legal tool to stop copycats, no grounds for a marketplace takedown request, and no protection if a competitor decides to register your brand name before you do. Trademark registration in Malaysia through MyIPO (Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia) costs RM 950 per class and takes 12-18 months, but the protection lasts 10 years and is renewable indefinitely.

This guide covers the full trademark registration process, from searching for conflicts to receiving your registration certificate.

What Is a Trademark and Why Ecommerce Sellers Need One

A trademark is a sign that distinguishes your goods or services from those of other businesses. It can be a word, logo, slogan, shape, colour, or combination of these. When registered with MyIPO, it gives you the exclusive legal right to use that mark in Malaysia for the goods or services specified in your registration.

For ecommerce sellers, a registered trademark provides three practical benefits:

1. Marketplace protection. Shopee and Lazada both accept trademark-based intellectual property complaints. With a registered trademark, you can file takedown requests against sellers using your brand name or logo without permission.

2. Brand registry access. Amazon Brand Registry, Shopee Brand Protection, and similar programs require or prefer registered trademarks. These programs unlock enhanced brand pages, counterfeit reporting tools, and greater control over your listings.

3. Legal deterrence. The registered trademark symbol (R) on your products and listings signals to competitors and copycats that you have legal protection. Most infringers back off when presented with a registration certificate.

For more on formalising your ecommerce business in Malaysia, see our online business registration hub.

The process is more accessible than most sellers expect.

What You Will Need

Before filing your trademark application, prepare:

• Clear representation of your mark — the exact word, logo, or design you want to register (for logos, a high-resolution image file in JPEG or PNG format, minimum 8cm x 8cm)
• List of goods/services — what you sell, categorised by Nice Classification class
• Applicant details — your name, address, and MyKad number (or company SSM registration number for business applicants)
• Priority claim documents (if applicable) — if you have filed in another country within the last 6 months
• MyIPO e-Filing account — register at myipo.gov.my
• Debit or credit card — for online payment of RM 950 per class

Understanding Trademark Classes for Ecommerce

The Nice Classification system divides goods and services into 45 classes. You must register your trademark in each class that covers what you sell. The most common classes for ecommerce sellers in Malaysia:

Each class costs RM 950 in filing fees. If you sell both clothing (Class 25) and bags (Class 18), you need two separate class registrations, totalling RM 1,900 in government fees alone.

Tip: Focus on the classes that cover your core products. You can always add more classes later with new applications.

How to Register a Trademark in Malaysia: Step by Step

Step 1: Conduct a Preliminary Trademark Search

Before spending RM 950 on a filing fee, check whether your desired trademark is already registered or pending. Use the MyIPO Online Trademark Search to search existing registrations by word mark, owner name, or registration number.

Search for:

• Your exact brand name
• Similar spelling variations
• Phonetic equivalents (names that sound the same but are spelled differently)

If you find a registered mark that is identical or confusingly similar to yours in the same class, your application will likely be rejected. Consider modifying your mark or choosing a different name before proceeding.

A professional trademark agent can conduct a more comprehensive search (including pending applications and phonetic matches) for RM 300-800. This is worth the cost if your brand name is a significant business asset.

Step 2: Prepare Your Trademark Specification

Decide exactly what you are registering:

• Word mark: Just the brand name in plain text (e.g., “BRANDNAME”). This gives the broadest protection because it covers the word in any font, colour, or style.
• Logo mark: A specific visual design. This protects only that exact design or a substantially similar one.
• Combined mark: Word plus logo together. This protects the specific combination but can be harder to enforce if someone copies only the word or only the logo.

For most ecommerce sellers, registering a word mark first provides the strongest and most versatile protection. You can register the logo separately if your visual brand identity is a key differentiator.

Next, draft your specification of goods or services. This must describe what your trademark covers within each class. Use the standardised terms from the TMclass database where possible, as MyIPO examiners prefer standard descriptions.

Example: For a clothing brand in Class 25, your specification might read: “Clothing, namely t-shirts, polo shirts, hoodies, and trousers; footwear, namely sneakers and sandals; headgear, namely caps and beanies.”

Step 3: File Your Application via MyIPO e-Filing

Log in to the MyIPO e-Filing portal. Navigate to “Trademark” and select “New Application.”

Fill in the application form:

• Applicant information — your name and address (or company name and SSM number)
• Mark representation — enter your word mark or upload your logo image
• Class and specification — select the Nice class and enter your goods/services description
• Priority claim — leave blank unless you filed in another country within the last 6 months
• Colour claim — only if your mark registration is limited to specific colours (leave unclaimed for maximum flexibility)

Review every field carefully. Errors in the application form may require a formal amendment, which costs additional fees and adds processing time.

Step 4: Pay the Filing Fee

The filing fee structure:

Pay online by credit or debit card. The fee is non-refundable, even if your application is eventually rejected. This is why the preliminary search in Step 1 is important.

Step 5: Wait for Examination and Respond to Any Objections

After filing, your application goes through several stages:

1. Formality check (1-2 months): MyIPO verifies that your application form and documents are complete and correct.
2. Substantive examination (4-8 months): An examiner reviews your mark for distinctiveness, potential conflicts with existing marks, and compliance with the Trademarks Act 2019.
3. Examination report: If the examiner raises objections (e.g., the mark is too descriptive, or it conflicts with a prior registration), you will receive an examination report. You have 2 months to respond.

Common objections for ecommerce brands:

• Descriptiveness: If your brand name describes your products (e.g., “BestClothes”), the examiner may reject it as non-distinctive. Add a design element or argue acquired distinctiveness through use.
• Similarity to existing marks: If a similar mark exists in the same class, the examiner will cite it. You can argue the marks are sufficiently different or that the goods/services do not overlap.

If you receive an objection, this is where a trademark agent earns their fee. They can draft a professional response that addresses the examiner’s concerns. Responding without professional help is possible but risky if the objection is complex.

Step 6: Publication and Opposition Period

If the examiner approves your mark (or you successfully overcome objections), the trademark is published in the IP Journal for a 2-month opposition period. During this time, any third party can oppose your registration if they believe the mark infringes their rights.

If no opposition is filed within 2 months, your trademark proceeds to registration.

If someone does oppose, you will need to file a counter-statement and potentially attend a hearing. This is rare for small ecommerce brands but can happen if your mark is similar to a well-known brand. Engage a trademark agent or lawyer if you face opposition.

Step 7: Receive Your Registration Certificate

After the opposition period passes without challenge, MyIPO issues your registration certificate. Your trademark is now protected for 10 years from the filing date and is renewable for subsequent 10-year periods by paying a renewal fee of RM 700 per class (online).

You can now use the registered trademark symbol (R) next to your mark. Update your Shopee store, Lazada listings, website, packaging, and marketing materials.

Pro Tips

• File for the word mark first, logo second. A word mark protects your brand name regardless of how it is displayed. A logo mark only protects that specific design. For RM 950, the word mark gives you the broadest protection.

• Register before you get big. It is cheaper and easier to register a trademark before competitors notice your brand. Once someone else files a conflicting mark (even if they are the copycat), you face an expensive opposition or cancellation proceeding.

• Keep evidence of first use. Screenshots of your earliest Shopee listings, invoices, social media posts, and marketing materials with your brand name can serve as evidence of prior use if you ever need to defend your trademark or challenge a conflicting application.

• Set a reminder for the 10-year renewal. Your trademark lapses if you do not renew before the expiry date. MyIPO sends reminders, but do not rely on them. Add the renewal date to your calendar now.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Registering only the logo, not the word. Many sellers register their logo because it feels more “official.” But if a competitor uses your brand name in plain text, a logo registration may not cover you. Always register the word mark first.

• Filing in the wrong class. If you sell clothing but register in Class 14 (jewellery), your trademark does not protect your core products. Check the Nice Classification carefully and register in every class where you have actual products.

• Ignoring the examination report. If MyIPO raises objections and you do not respond within 2 months, your application is deemed withdrawn, and your RM 950 is forfeited. Even if the objection seems difficult, respond before the deadline or request an extension.

• Assuming SSM registration equals trademark protection. Your SSM business name registration does not give you trademark rights. SSM prevents another business from registering the same name, but it does not stop someone from trademarking it. A competitor could trademark a name you have been using for years if you have not filed first.

Next Steps

Your brand name is a business asset. Every month you delay registration is another month a competitor could file a conflicting application, a copycat could register your name, or a marketplace could refuse your IP complaint for lack of registration.

The filing process takes about an hour on the MyIPO e-Filing portal. For RM 950, you get 10 years of legal protection for your brand across all of Malaysia.

Once your trademark is filed, ensure your underlying business registration is current. If you have not registered your business with SSM yet, read our SSM registration guide. For sellers also trading in Singapore, ACRA registration has its own process and requirements.

This guide covers general information about trademark registration in Malaysia. It is not legal advice. Trademark law involves nuances that may affect your specific situation. Verify current fees and procedures at myipo.gov.my or consult a registered trademark agent. Last verified: March 2026.