An individual mark is intended to distinguish the goods or services of a particular business (single commercial source) from those of its competitors.
A collective mark is intended to distinguish the goods or services of those permitted to use it under its rules of use.
Applications to register collective marks must therefore include rules of use governing how the mark is utilised.
Only certain organisations are allowed to hold collective marks. These include the State, the Commune, public institutions, trade unions, associations or groupings of manufacturers, industrial operators, or retailers, serving a public, industrial, commercial, or economic interest, or promoting the development of their members’ business or industry.
To retain control over their use, collective marks are non-transferable.