INPI trademark management — HIFI LOVERS

Context

I wanted to register the HIFI LOVERS trademark at INPI, only to discover it was already on file (no. 5199875, filed on 17/11/2025 via Legalstart under HL Media, classes 25/35/41/43). The challenge shifted to regaining control of the INPI account and preparing a supplementary filing (figurative logo + adding class 16 for print).

What was built

• Full diagnostic of the existing trademark: classes covered, missing classes (9 and 16), filing type (word mark)
• Identification of two separate INPI accounts (Legalstart vs personal FranceConnect+)
• Account transfer request sent to INPI
• Filing strategy defined: new figurative filing (brandmark + wordmark) across 5 classes (25, 35, 41, 43, 16), budget ~€350
• Reminder of the 6-month priority right for international extension (EUIPO / Madrid)

What was difficult / unexpected

• The email field on the INPI account can't be changed via INPIConnect — you have to go through support
• Two INPI accounts coexisted without my knowledge, creating a risk of fragmentation

Stack

INPI e-procedures portal, INPIConnect, FranceConnect+, trademark database data.inpi.fr.

What this illustrates

Claude as a real-time administrative co-pilot — step-by-step guidance through an unfamiliar interface with screenshots, ready-to-paste message drafts, and strategic arbitrage (personal vs business account, classes to cover, timing of the figurative filing).

Still to do

• Wait for INPI's response on the transfer to the personal account
• Retrieve the final logo files (Little Yeti Studio)
• Prepare the goods/services description for the 5 classes and submit the figurative filing