Under article 141 of the Civil Code, a ‚thing' is everything that might constitute an object of a property. Consequently a registered trademark constitutes a thing in the sense of the Civil Code. Registered trademarks may therefore be used as securities and a pledge can be imposed on them. A pledge contract has to be done in writing or as a notarial deed. Even if there is no such practice, a pledge contract may be registered over a trademark in the Trademark Register of APTO (Articles 546 and 547 of the Civil Code). The pledge only has effect vis-à-vis third parties if they are aware of the pledge or if it has been made public by registration.
