Germany offers several types of intellectual property (IP) protection, including patents, utility models, trademarks, and designs. Each of these rights is registered through different procedures, with varying costs and legal requirements. 1. Patents (Patente) A patent grants its owner the exclusive right to use and commercialize an invention for a maximum period of 20 years. [...]
Before applying for any intellectual property (IP) protection, a professional preliminary search is crucial to assess the novelty, distinctiveness, and enforceability of the desired IP right. A thorough search minimizes the risk of rejection, infringement disputes, and unnecessary costs. Each type of IP right requires a different approach to prior art or existing rights research [...]
The process of registering an EU trademark (EUTM), from choosing a name to using the registered trademark, involves several steps: 1. Name Selection and Preliminary Research Brand Creation: The process begins with selecting a distinctive name, logo, or slogan that represents your brand. The chosen mark should be: Unique and not descriptive of the goods [...]
Trade marks identify products and services of an enterprise. They stand for the quality of an enterprise and are part of the company’s intellectual property, just like patents. A strong trade mark is a valuable asset. Anyone can file a trade mark. Trade mark protection is available for words, letters, numbers, pictures, and even colours [...]