The European Community Trade Marks and Designs Registration Office states that, a sign or symbol which aims to distinguish the goods and services of one organisation from another and is registered with OHIM and valid throughout the European Union in accordance with the provisions of the CTM Regulations, is a Community Trade Mark (CTM).
A Community Trade Mark has a unitary character and an equal effect throughout the European Community.
Its owner has the exclusive right to use the trade mark and to prevent third parties using the same or a similar mark for identical or similar goods or services as those protected by the CTM, without consent.

A Community trade mark shall be obtained by registration and it is valid for 10 years, although it can be renewed indefinitely for the same period of ten years.

The main advantage of a CTM is that it is valid and protected in the whole European Union.