Trademark HZ CONTAINERS and HZ KONTEJNERY

The trademark HZ CONTAINERS and its language variant HZ KONTEJNERY are two registered word marks of the European Union, filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) under application numbers 019346571 and 019346402. These trademarks belong to the companies HZ CONTAINERS s.r.o. and HZ KONTEJNERY s.r.o. — leading players in the Central European container market, headquartered in Prague with an operational centre in Třebíč. This article offers a comprehensive overview of all aspects of these trademarks — from the history of their filing, through a detailed breakdown of the protection classes, to their commercial and legal significance.

HZ CONTAINERS and HZ KONTEJNERY are word marks of the European Union registered with EUIPO, which protect the brand name in the field of sales, rental, repairs, and transport of containers in all EU member states.

What is the trademark HZ CONTAINERS and HZ KONTEJNERY?

Definition and basic information

The trademark HZ CONTAINERS and HZ KONTEJNERY is a word mark — meaning it protects the text itself regardless of its graphic representation, colour, or font. This type of trademark is the most common and at the same time the strongest, because it covers any use of the given word combination in connection with the goods and services for which it is registered.

Both applications were filed on 12 April 2026 with EUIPO — the European Union Intellectual Property Office based in Alicante, Spain. Their current status is “Application published”, which means they have passed the formal examination phase and have been published for potential opposition proceedings. After the opposition period expires without objections, they will be fully entered in the register of European trademarks.

Who is the owner of the trademarks?

The ownership of both trademarks is divided between two legal entities, which nevertheless belong to the same business group:

• HZ CONTAINERS s.r.o. (Company ID: 22068660, registered in the commercial register at the Municipal Court in Prague, file number C 410475) — owner of trademark no. 019346571
• HZ KONTEJNERY s.r.o. (Company ID: 03975177, registered in the commercial register at the Municipal Court in Prague, file number C 240707) — owner of trademark no. 019346402

HZ KONTEJNERY s.r.o. is the older of the two entities and operates as the main operational centre with a depot in Třebíč (Průmyslová 154), while HZ CONTAINERS s.r.o. was established later (20 September 2024) and represents the international commercial face of the brand. Both companies operate websites on the domain hz-containers.com, which serves as a global platform for the sale and rental of shipping, refrigerated, freezer, and residential containers in more than 50 countries worldwide.

When and where was the trademark application filed?

Filing date and current status

Both applications — 019346571 (HZ CONTAINERS) and 019346402 (HZ KONTEJNERY) — were filed on 12 April 2026. This date is crucial because it determines the priority date, which determines who has the priority right to use the given designation within the entire European Union.

The current status of both applications is “Application published”. In the European trademark registration process, this is the phase that follows the successful completion of the formal examination (checking the correctness and completeness of the application) and absolute grounds for refusal (examination of distinctiveness, descriptiveness, deceptiveness, etc.). After publication, a three-month period runs, during which third parties may file objections to the registration. If no objections are filed — or if they are successfully overcome — the application proceeds to the registration phase.

Registration process at EUIPO

The registration of a European trademark at EUIPO takes place in several phases:

1. Filing the application — The applicant submits a request with the exact wording of the designation and a list of goods and services according to the Nice Classification.
2. Formal examination — EUIPO verifies whether the application meets all formal requirements.
3. Examination of absolute grounds — It is examined whether the designation is not descriptive, deceptive, or whether it has any other shortcomings preventing registration.
4. Publication of the application — The application is published in the EU Trademark Bulletin.
5. Opposition proceedings — Third parties have 3 months to file objections.
6. Registration — If there are no objections, the trademark is registered with a validity of 10 years.

The trademarks HZ CONTAINERS and HZ KONTEJNERY are currently in phase 4–5, which signals that the registration process has progressed and is approaching successful completion.

What protection classes do the trademarks HZ CONTAINERS and HZ KONTEJNERY cover?

Overview of all Nice Classification classes

The trademarks are registered in the Nice Classification system, which divides goods and services into 45 classes. Both applications cover multiple classes, with interesting differences between them:

As can be seen from the table, the trademark HZ CONTAINERS covers one more class — specifically class 37 (repairs), which is missing from the HZ KONTEJNERY trademark. On the other hand, within class 39, HZ KONTEJNERY has some additional items that HZ CONTAINERS does not list.

Detailed breakdown of goods and services

Class 6 — Metal goods

Both trademarks protect a wide range of metal container solutions:

• Metal containers for transport and storage
• Hooklift containers
• Metal tanks and cisterns
• Metal waste containers (for industrial use)
• Floating metal containers
• Metal capsules

Class 11 — Environmental control equipment

• Refrigerated containers
• Refrigerated transport containers

Class 21 — Household goods

• Waste containers

Class 35 — Advertising and business services

• Rental of sales stands
• Business intermediation
• Only HZ KONTEJNERY: Rental of advertising materials

Class 37 — Construction and repair services

• Only HZ CONTAINERS: Repairs of transport containers

Class 39 — Transport and storage (the most extensive class)

Both trademarks cover the core of the business here:

• Rental of containers (storage, transport, recycling)
• Rental of containers for storage of goods
• Storage of containers and cargo
• Maritime transport of containers
• Road and rail transport of containers
• Handling of containers

Only HZ CONTAINERS additionally lists: packing of goods into containers, maritime transport as such, freight forwarding services by sea, loading of containers onto trucks.

Only HZ KONTEJNERY additionally lists: leasing of chassis for freight containers, rental of pallets and containers for storage of goods, rental of pallets and containers for transport of goods, rental of warehouses.

What is the difference between the trademarks HZ CONTAINERS and HZ KONTEJNERY?

Comparison of both applications

Although both trademarks share a common core, there are significant differences between them that reflect different business strategies:

Why did the company register two trademarks?

The registration of two language variants of the same brand is not accidental — it is a deliberate strategy of bilingual brand protection, which brings several advantages:

1. Coverage of different markets — “HZ CONTAINERS” is an English name intended for international clients, web search, and global expansion. “HZ KONTEJNERY” is a Czech variant that resonates with the domestic market in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
2. Protection against parasitism — If the company had registered only one variant, competitors could start using the other. Registration of both forms prevents third parties from benefiting from the brand’s reputation under any language mutation.
3. Different legal entities, different business focus — HZ KONTEJNERY s.r.o. is an older company focused on the Czech market with an emphasis on rental and storage. HZ CONTAINERS s.r.o. is a newer entity focused on international trade, maritime logistics, and comprehensive services including repairs.
4. Flexibility in licensing — Different ownership allows each brand to be independently licensed in the future according to market needs.

What significance does the trademark have for a container company?

Legal protection of the brand

A registered trademark gives its owner the exclusive right to use the given designation in connection with the goods and services for which it is registered. In the case of HZ CONTAINERS and HZ KONTEJNERY, this means that no other company within the European Union can legally use these names for the sale, rental, repair, or transport of containers without the owner’s consent.

In the event of infringement, the trademark owner can:

• File an opposition against the registration of a similar trademark
• Demand cessation of unauthorised use
• Claim damages and appropriate satisfaction
• File a report with customs authorities to detain counterfeit goods

Commercial value and competitive advantage

A trademark is not just a legal shield — it is also a significant intangible asset that increases the overall value of the company. For a container company such as HZ KONTEJNERY, this has several dimensions:

• Credibility with customers — The symbol of a registered trademark ® signals seriousness and professionalism. Customers who invest tens of thousands of euros in container solutions need assurance that they are dealing with an established and protected brand.
• Marketing value — A strong brand simplifies marketing and helps build loyalty. When a client associates quality with the name HZ CONTAINERS, every subsequent order is easier.
• Licensing and franchising — With a registered trademark, the company can offer licences or franchise models in other markets in the future.
• Protection of investments in the domain and website — The domain hz-containers.com is protected precisely by the existence of the trademark, which prevents cybersquatters and unfair competitors.

How to verify the validity of the HZ CONTAINERS trademark?

Searching the EUIPO database

Verification of the trademark status is publicly available and free of charge through several tools:

1. eSearch plus (euipo.europa.eu/eSearch) — the official EUIPO search tool. Simply enter the application number (019346571 or 019346402) and the system will display all available data: status, classes, owner, dates.
2. TMview (tmdn.org/tmview) — an international database that aggregates trademarks from all EU member countries and many other states.
3. Direct links:
   • HZ CONTAINERS: https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/019346571
   • HZ KONTEJNERY: https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/019346402

Other registers and tools

In addition to EUIPO, trademarks can also be verified in:

• ÚPV SR (indprop.gov.sk) — the register of Slovak trademarks
• WIPO Global Brand Database — the international register of the World Intellectual Property Organization
• TrademarkElite — a commercial database with detailed information on applications

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is the HZ CONTAINERS trademark already registered?

The trademarks HZ CONTAINERS (019346571) and HZ KONTEJNERY (019346402) are in the status “Application published”. This means that the applications have been successfully examined from both a formal and substantive point of view and have been published. After the opposition period expires (3 months from publication) and without objections being filed, they will be fully entered in the register of European trademarks.

What does the status “Application published” mean?

The status “Application published” means that the trademark application has been published in the EU Trademark Bulletin. It is the penultimate phase before registration — third parties have 3 months to file objections. If no objections are filed, the trademark is entered in the register.

Can someone else use the name HZ CONTAINERS?

No. A registered trademark gives the owner the exclusive right to use this designation for the goods and services listed in the application throughout the EU territory. Any unauthorised use can be legally challenged.

What is the validity of a European trademark?

The validity of an EU trademark is 10 years from the date of filing the application, with the possibility of unlimited renewal for a further 10 years each time. For HZ CONTAINERS and HZ KONTEJNERY, this means validity until 12 April 2036 with the possibility of renewal.

How long does trademark registration at EUIPO take?

The entire process from filing the application to registration takes on average 4 to 6 months if no objections are raised. In the event of opposition proceedings, the process can be extended to 12 to 24 months.

What is the difference between a word mark and a figurative mark?

A word mark protects the text itself regardless of font, colour, or graphic representation. It provides the broadest protection. A figurative mark protects a specific visual representation — a logo, a graphic element, a specific colour scheme. Both HZ CONTAINERS and HZ KONTEJNERY are registered as word marks, which means maximum flexibility in their use in various marketing materials, on containers, and in the digital environment.