French Trademark Registration
With our licence to represent you at the French IP Office – INPI – we offer intellectual property (IP) legal services including French trademark registrations and related trademark attorney services in France. As chartered trademark agents and trademark lawyers we offer an uncomplicated, personal, non-technical registration process. We have the licence to duly represent you before the INPI and we file online and receive the trademark Certificates from INPI by registered mail to our Berlin office. This is a smooth process.
French trademarks provide protection in France and in the following French overseas departments: French Guyana (GF), Guadeloupe (GP), Martinique (MQ), Mayotte (YT) and Réunion (RE). It also provides protection in the French overseas collectivities: New Caledonia (NC), Saint-Barthelemy (BL) and the French part of Saint-Martin (MF), St. Pierre and Miquelon (PM), Wallis and Futuna (WF) as well as the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TF). However, French national trademark registrations do not automatically extend to French Polynesia (FP). It is also good to know that France is a member of the Madrid Agreement, the Madrid Protocol and the European Union. Accordingly, trademark protection is obtained by registration (except well-known trademarks). With France being a member of the Paris Convention for the protection of industrial property, priority right can be claimed.
The trademark Registration process in SIX steps in FRANCE
First, receipt of your mark / brand or logo followed by …
Finalizing and translating the list of goods and services of the trademark
Following that, payment of the trademark application fee
Soon after, a trademark search (optional)
Trademark application at the INPI online website in French
In case of a smooth application, registration of the trademark within six months, receipt of the paper based French Trademark Certificate
The French trademark registration procedure in more detail
Why France?
How does the French trademark application process compare? It is a good choice, since it is one of the cheapest trademarks, one of the fastest and covers one of the biggest and strongest economies in Europe. Of course everything is in French language and you need an EU IP lawyer as INPI representative as a foreign entity. Actually, you do not have to worry about that if you engage us and no written Power of Attorney or Authorization is needed if you engage us.
As mentioned before, a regular trademark application will be registered in six months, so how long does an irregular application last? Typically, there are two types of problems with trademark applications: The first one is if they are describing the goods / services; the second one is if someone who has a similar trademark, files an opposition. Now in the first case we could defend the mark at the INPI and reply to the examiner which is a slight delay; whereas if an opposition procedure starts, that can take a long time. Therefore, we always try to assess the risks beforehand. And if the client prefers, we can find ways to move ahead rapidly, e.g. by settling the conflict amicably.
Risks
It all starts with the pre-filing opinion. We will tell you how “good” your candidate mark is, how distinctive it is. Certainly, you know your market and competitors which helps also a lot. Finally, a thorough French trademark search can reveal earlier trademarks that could be potentially dangerous. The holder of an earlier mark may oppose to our French trademark application or even file a cancellation action later on. Ultimately it is your decision to take or not to take the business risks. It is however our task to clear you up about these risks. Certainly, if a mark is risky, you can wait until the end of the opposition with financial investments.
Oppositions
The opposition period is two months after publication of the trademark application in the official gazette of the INPI. A formal notice of opposition can be filed electronically through a platform accessible on the Office website. This must be then completed within one month with the proper arguments and necessary evidence in support of the French opposition. Opposition procedures often last for a year, therefore we usually work with our clients to avoid them. This approach helps them to use their brands in France safely as soon as possible.
FRENCH Trademark Fees – Clear & Fixed –
Trademark application IN FRANCE IN ONE class OF GOODS / SERVICES
EUR 190
The sign can be a word or device mark, or a more special sign
We never charge for the registration of the trademark, nor does the French Patent Office
This is the statutory fee what we pay as the official French trademark fee. Please ask for our fees
TRADEMARK Registration IN FRANCE IN ADDITIONAL CLASS(ES)
EUR 40
This is the discounted official fee for the application in two or more classes
We do not charge hidden fees, for example fees for forwarding the certificate of registration
The legal fees and representation before the office, are not included
RENEWAL OF A FRENCH TRADEMARK IN ONE CLASS OF GOODS / SERVICES
EUR 290
Our fee is not included but we never charge for receipt, checking or forwarding of the Certificate of Registration
The official French trademark renewal fee includes all foreseeable costs
Taking over FRENCH INPI representation
– ask for a quote-
Available before or after application of the trademark at the French IP Office INPI
As INPI representatives will get back to you soon and provide you with a competitive quote
PROFESSIONAL trademark search IN FRANCE
– ask for a quote –
This extended search includes hits that may be confusingly similar in the INPI and WIPO registries
We gladly check if your mark has been registered in France, with a free trademark search. This should only serve as a starting point
Opposition, ASSIGNMENT, CANCELLATION, refusal
– ask for a quote –
Defense and offense before the French Patent Office
Or to overcome an ex officio refusal of the French Intellectual Property Office – Institut national de la propriété industrielle (INPI)
EUR 52 is the official urgency fee for any change of name, change of address and recordal of assignments requests. The request is then handled within a few days instead of the standard of three weeks
French Trademark – Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
To file a trademark application we do not need a Power of Attorney or authorization for France. However, we need the full name, address, postal code of the applicant. We also need your list of your products / services.
It is really not about the number of goods, but to have a coverage. Above all, the goods / services must be covered that you will use in the next few years for sure. It also makes sense to take a step back a little and think in categories, not just about the current product line for France.
The biggest pitfall is usually the formalities as the INPI is quite strict about those. On the other side, the second biggest pitfall is a conflicting earlier mark. Later, this could lead to the cancellation of the trademark. However, this risk can be minimized by trademark and market search in France.
The protection lasts ten years and can be renewed again and again. We would gladly assist you in the renewal of your trademark . If you want to renew your trademark in France, you should consult us in due course. It only makes sense to renew a trademark if there is a commercial purpose of it. The renewal process is fairly simple, however, close attention must be paid to the deadlines and formalities.
Official fees of the French Intellectual Property Office – French Patent Office – French IP Office French Patent and Trademark Office – Institut national de la propriété industrielle (INPI) have zero VAT.
As far as we know, the prices for French trademarks are really low. Your case will be handled by an EU attorney or European trademark agent from Berlin. Moreover, the cost of a French trademark is much lower than the cost of other national trademarks in the European Union. However, if you have business in many EU countries, you should consider a European trademark.
Any natural or legal person, irrespective of nationality or place of business, including authorities established under public law.
No. The French trademark system is unique and has some special features and particularities. Not all marks may be eligible to be protected as a French trademark. It is therefore essential to consult an experienced trademark attorney before the trademark application.