Trademark Registration in the EU

Trademark is a unique distinctive sign of your business. It may consist of any symbols, designs, letters and numbers. Registering a trademark means protecting your company name and intellectual property.

Why is it beneficial to register a trademark in the EU?

The trademark becomes your property. You can sell it or license it;
Simple online registration in one language that is valid across all EU countries;
Fast registration process and affordable trademark costs throughout the EU;
Your brand gains recognition among potential consumers in the market;
Intellectual property protection lasts for 10 years in the EU with unlimited renewal options;
Protection against counterfeiting and fraudulent activities.

Watch the video with an expert (1:39 min)

Trademark Registration in the EU Depending on Business Scale and Registration Levels

National level – used to protect a trademark in a single EU member state only. For example, in Estonia. Protection is granted by the national intellectual property office;
Regional level – this option is for registering trademarks specifically in Belgium, the Netherlands, or Luxembourg. Intellectual property protection at the regional level is provided by the Benelux Office of Intellectual Property (BOIP);
EU level – registration of a trademark in all EU member states at once is handled by the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office);
International level – trademark protection in all countries that are part of the Madrid Protocol is granted by the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization).

All the above-mentioned trademark registration levels in the EU complement each other and operate in parallel.

Trademark Uniqueness Check in the EU

Trademark registration in the EU is only permitted after verifying its uniqueness in the official trademark databases.

Currently, there are two main databases containing over 11 million trademarks:

eSearch plus – the EUIPO database containing information on registered EU trademarks and industrial designs. It allows you to check for similar existing trademarks, search by image, and find official representatives;
TMview – a consolidated database that includes data from all national IP offices in the EU, the EUIPO, and other intellectual property offices outside the EU.

What should be included in an EU trademark application?

The actual trademark image/design;
A list of goods or services to be registered.

The list of goods and services must be correctly and precisely specified. Your products/services must be classified under one of the Nice Classification categories.