Germany · Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
German trademarks are registered with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). You search the register, file an application classifying goods/services under Nice, and — as Germany does not examine relative grounds — it registers, then has a three-month opposition window. A German trademark lasts 10 years and is renewable; an EU-wide alternative is the EU trademark via EUIPO.
Trademarks, patents and designs are registered with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA); EU-wide protection is available through the EUIPO.
- German trademarks, patents and designs are filed with the DPMA.
- An EU trademark (EUTM) at the EUIPO protects the mark across all EU member states.
- International protection can be extended via WIPO's Madrid (trademarks) and PCT (patents) systems.
- 1
Search the register
Search DPMAregister (and EU/international registers) for conflicting marks — Germany does not refuse on earlier marks, so clearance is on you.
- 2
File the application
File with the DPMA, describing the mark and classifying the goods/services under the Nice Classification.
- 3
Registration and opposition
The DPMA examines absolute grounds only; the mark registers and then has a three-month window for third parties to oppose.
- 4
Renewal and maintenance
A German trademark lasts 10 years from filing and can be renewed indefinitely for further 10-year terms.
- 5
Cover patents, designs and copyright
Protect inventions with DPMA/EPO patents and appearance with registered designs; copyright arises automatically on creation.
- 6
Choose national vs EU and enforce
Consider an EU trademark (EUIPO) for all member states, use the Madrid Protocol for wider reach, and enforce against infringers.
- DPMAregister search (clearance is on you)
- Application (Nice classes + mark)
- Registration + 3-month opposition window
- Renewal (10 years)
- Patents (DPMA/EPO) + registered designs
- Automatic copyright
- EU trademark option (EUIPO)
- Madrid Protocol for international
- German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA)
Trademarks, patents and designs.
- EUIPO
EU office for EU trademarks and designs.
Frequently asked questions
Does Germany examine earlier marks?
No — the DPMA checks only absolute grounds; owners of earlier marks must oppose or take action themselves, so clearance searching matters.
National German or EU trademark?
A German mark covers Germany only; an EU trademark (via EUIPO) covers all member states in one registration — choose by your market footprint.
How long does a German trademark last?
Ten years from the filing date, renewable indefinitely for further 10-year periods.
Government portals
- Federal Government of Germany — Germany's Federal Cabinet official website — policy, legislation, news, and government programs
- Federal Office for Migration (BAMF) — German visas, EU Blue Card, asylum, integration courses, and permanent residency
- Federal Central Tax Office (BZSt) — Tax ID (IdNr) registration, tax identification lookup, withholding tax refunds — the key authority for foreign taxpayers in Germany