Protect your business by registering your brands officially with the local trademark office of Germany. Once registered, you can enforce your legal rights over the trademark and prevent others from using it in Germany.
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Search prices
First class $100 - Each additional class $80
Application prices
First class $850 - Each additional class $350
The price for the "First Class" includes 3 classes. The price for "additional class" applies starting with the 4th class. If the items of the description of goods or services are not identical to the Nice classification, an additional USD 250 will be charged per application. In Germany an accelerated process is available, for which the approximate process duration is 2 months. An additional fee of US$ 460 will apply for an accelerated process.
The average application process takes 4 months.
This is an estimated process time for straightforward cases based on current timeframes for applications. It may vary considerably.
No documents are necessary.
Germany is a member of the European Union, thus European Union Trademarks (EUTM) are protected in this jurisdiction. Therefore, trademark protection in Germany can be obtained either by registering a European Union trademark that is also valid in all the other European Union member countries, or by registering locally through the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). The German trademark office offers the option of an accelerated trademark registration process. This process requires the payment of additional fees. The accelerated trademark process in Germany allows for a trademark to be registered in just two (2) months.
If you register a combined trademark (which includes both word elements and figurative elements) in Germany, the exclusive right to use the trademark is limited to a use of the trademark is limited to a use of the trademark in the exact configuration or way in which it was filed and registered. If you wish to use the word element of your trademark separately from the logo (or vice versa), it is recommended you register for another trademark including only the word or figurative elements you wish to use and protect separately.
Nevertheless, if a third party eventually intends to register or use a trademark for similar goods or services that includes a primary or distinct part or portion of your trademark, you will have the right to oppose the application based on confusing similarity. Probabilities of success for an opposition will vary in each case depending on the circumstances.
In Germany, use of the trademark before registration is not necessary and will not help overcome objections raised on grounds of lack of distinctiveness.
The German trademarks office (DPMA) will examine the application to check whether the trademark complies with the requirements for registration. It will not check the existence of identical or confusingly similar filed or registered trademarks.
Once the application is accepted for registration, the grant of registration will be published, marking the beginning of a three-month period during which third parties can file an opposition against it.
German trademarks are valid for ten (10) years from the application date. The renewal can be applied as early as one year before the expiry date until the last day of the month of the renewal date. There is a grace period of six (6) months after the expiry date when the trademark can still be renewed provided a late renewal fee is paid.
Although it is not necessary to use the trademark for it to register, it must be used within a period of five (5) years after registration, otherwise it will become vulnerable to cancellation for non-use. The amount of use in Germany must be on a commercial scale.
Germany is a member state to the Madrid Protocol. Thus, the extension of an international registration of a trademark via the Madrid System is possible for this country. We offer services for trademark filing through the Madrid System.
Germany recognizes three-dimensional (3D) trademarks, allowing protection for distinctive product shapes or packaging. The German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) handles trademark applications. For 3D marks, applicants must submit clear graphical representations from multiple angles, typically six views (front, back, top, bottom, left, and right). The shape must be capable of distinguishing goods or services and cannot be solely functional. Germany applies strict distinctiveness criteria for 3D marks, often requiring proof of acquired distinctiveness through extensive use and recognition in the German market. The DPMA may also request a physical sample of the 3D object for examination purposes. Notably, Germany follows the EU trademark directive, which allows for the registration of signs that can be represented in a clear, precise, self-contained, easily accessible, intelligible, durable and objective manner.
