🇩🇪 Germany · Trademark & IP
Trademark registration, patents, copyright, official IP offices, and filing costs.
Quick answer
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.
Step-by-step
- 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.
Checklist
- 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
Official authorities
- 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.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
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