German Trademark Registration
We offer intellectual property (IP) legal services in Germany including German trademark registrations and related trademark attorney services. As trademark agents and trademark lawyers we offer an uncomplicated, personal, non-technical registration process.
Our biggest advantages are the quick turn-around time and a high success rate. We also value frankness with clients, personal communication, clear pricing and low fees. At least this is what sets us apart on the German market. We have a clear pricing model, we always try to anticipate costs exactly. The prices on this site are excl. hidden fees (disbursements, etc.). We hope that our clients will return to us with newer and newer branding ideas.
The trademark Registration process in seven steps in Germany
First, receipt of your mark / brand or logo followed by …
Finalizing 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 DPMA online
In case of a smooth application, registration of the trademark within one and two months, receipt of the Certificate of Registration from the DPMA
Finally, if no opposition is received by the DPMA, then confirmation of the registration
The German trademark registration procedure in more detail
Registration speed
Why is this trademark registration procedure unusual? Well, first of all, ideally you can get a German trademark certificate as soon as three weeks. And that’s just great. Actually, you can receive the certificate even sooner, if you apply for expedited / accelerated / urgent procedure. In latter case, if everything runs smoothly, ideally, in urgent procedures the DPMA registers your German trademark within a week! However, the urgent procedure comes with an extra official fee of EUR 200.
Oppositions
As mentioned above, the normal application will be also registered in a few weeks, which depends on the classes chosen. So what is the trade off for this speed? Since the opposition period is three month also in Germany, which means that you will receive your trademark certificate first, before the end of the oppositions period. However, if noone files an opposition against your mark, the DPMA will notify you in a simple letter that no opposition has been received. The alternative is that you have to fight an opposition procedure. That would take some time and legal fees and we would certainly advise you if it is worth the investment. As your German trademark representative or German trademark agent we can guide you through the process.
Trademark search
You should be in a position to be able calculate risks. You can rely on your market knowledge and market search. This is very important. A trademark search is of course also important, but you basically can expect oppositions from your competitors. If you are not familiar with the German market, we can help you out and run some specific internet searches to learn about your competitors. As a result, at the day of application, you will know how risky a German trademark application is. Ultimately it is your decision to take business risks. It is our task to clear you up about them. Obviously, if a mark is risky, you can wait until the end of the opposition period before investing in it. In Germany, the chance that an opposition is filed, is much much higher than that of a later cancellation action.
German Trademark Fees – Clear & Fixed –
German trademark application up to three classes
EUR 290
The brand can be a word or device mark
We never charge for the registration of the trademark
This is the statutory fee what we pay to the DPMA. Please ask for our fees
Trademark application in Germany in additional class(es)
EUR 100 / class over 3 classes
We will help you with the list of goods, just send your brand idea
We do not charge hidden fees, for example fees for forwarding the certificate of registration
Renewal of a German trademark up to three classes
EUR 750
This includes the official fees but no service fee
This not is the total cost of the renewal
Taking over representation
– ask for a quote-
Available before or after application of the trademark at the DPMA
A good way to find out any problems in the registration process
German professional trademark search
– ask for a quote –
This extended search includes hits that may be confusingly similar in the EU, DE, international registries
We gladly check if your mark has been registered in Germany with a free trademark search. This should only serve as a starting point
Oppositions, cancellations refusals
– ask for a quote –
Defense and offense
Or to overcome an ex officio refusal of the German Patent and Trademark Office
German Trademarks – Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
To file a German trademark application we do not need a Power of Attorney. 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 and think in categories, not in concrete products.
The biggest pitfall of them all is lack of individual character. For instance, if the trademark is descriptive, it will not function as a brand properly and will be refused by the DPMA. In other words, if you seek a German trademark registration you have to come up with something new. 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.
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 a German trademark, 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 DPMA have zero VAT.
As far as we know, our prices for German trademarks are really low. Your case will be handled by an attorney and we offer you a premium service. Moreover, the cost of a German trademark is much lower than the cost of a European trademark (EU TM). Hence, if you have business in Germany, e.g. if you need an amazon brand registry, then a German trademark registration is ideal. On the other side, if you have business in several EU countries, you should consider an EU trademark.