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 [...]
Conduct trademark searches - not only before filing a trademark application but also after trademark registration Trade mark searches are important. They are the only way to check if your proposed trade mark does not infringe earlier rights. Even after registration you should regularly carry out searches in order to efficiently defend your trade mark. [...]
Trademark Registration in Germany The German Patent and Trade Mark Office examines your trade mark application for so-called absolute grounds for refusal. Signs or indications are excluded from registration if they merely describe the kind, quality or other characteristics of the goods or services claimed. The German Patent and Trade Mark Office does not check [...]
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 [...]