# Trademark registration in Germany > Trademarks in Germany are registered with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA); the official application fee is EUR 290 for up to 3 classes, and third parties can oppose within 3 months from publication of the registration. A registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed. Germany can be designated through the Madrid System. Source page: https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/germany Facts checked against official sources: 2026-10-11 ## Key facts - **Trademark office:** German Patent and Trade Mark Office (Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt) (DPMA) - **Official fee:** EUR 290 — Application fee, electronic filing (includes up to 3 classes) - **Madrid Protocol:** Member since 1996 - **Opposition period:** 3 months from publication of the registration - **Protection:** 10 years from the filing date, renewable - **Multi-class applications:** Allowed - **Foreign applicants:** Applicants without a residence, principal place of business or establishment in Germany must appoint a patent attorney… ## Official links - Trademark office: https://www.dpma.de/english/ - Online filing: https://www.dpma.de/english/services/efiling/index.html - Law: Act on the Protection of Trade Marks and other Signs (Trade Mark Act, Markengesetz - MarkenG), English translation — https://bundesrecht.juris.de/englisch_markeng/englisch_markeng.pdf ## Official fees (as of 2026-08) - Application fee, electronic filing (includes up to 3 classes): EUR 290 - Application fee, standard/paper filing (includes up to 3 classes): EUR 300 - Each additional class from the 4th class (filing): EUR 100 - Accelerated examination: EUR 200 — Optional - Renewal fee (includes up to 3 classes): EUR 750 - Each additional class from the 4th class (renewal): EUR 260 - Late renewal surcharge: EUR 50 — If paid within the 6-month grace period after expiry - Opposition: EUR 250 — Plus EUR 50 for each additional opposing sign of the same proprietor ## Steps 1. Search DPMAregister and other databases for identical or similar earlier marks, because the DPMA does not check for conflicts with earlier rights. 2. Prepare the list of goods and services using the Nice classes; the application cannot be broadened after filing. 3. File the application with the DPMA, preferably electronically, and pay the fee; processing starts only once the full fee is paid. 4. The DPMA checks the filing data and examines absolute grounds for refusal, such as descriptiveness. 5. If there are no objections, the mark is entered in the register, the registration is published in the Markenblatt, and a registration certificate is issued. 6. Owners of earlier rights may file an opposition within 3 months of publication of the registration. 7. Renew every 10 years; the renewal fee falls due six months before expiry. - **Examination:** The DPMA examines formal requirements and absolute grounds for refusal only; it does not examine conflicts with earlier third-party rights. With accelerated examination (EUR 200), a decision must be made within six months of filing if the applicant cooperates. The DPMA currently reports slower processing because of a sharp rise in applications. - **Publication:** Markenblatt (Trade Mark Journal), where registrations are published - **Opposition:** 3 months from publication of the registration (post-registration opposition) - **Late renewal:** 6 months after expiry, with a EUR 50 surcharge - **Language:** German - **Use requirement:** a registration can be challenged after 5 years of non-use. ## Good to know - Germany uses a post-registration opposition system: marks are registered after examination of absolute grounds, and earlier-right owners may oppose within 3 months of the published registration. - Trade mark rights in Germany can arise not only through registration but also through use that has acquired recognition in trade, and through notoriety (well-known marks). - The basic application fee covers up to three classes; additional classes cost EUR 100 each at filing and EUR 260 each at renewal. - The DPMA does not send invoices or payment requests for applications or renewals and warns about misleading private payment requests. - Germany is also covered by EU trade marks filed at EUIPO, which can be an alternative or complement to a German national mark. ## FAQ ### How much does it cost to register a trademark in Germany? The DPMA fee is EUR 290 for an electronic application covering up to three classes (EUR 300 on paper), plus EUR 100 for each additional class. ### How long does trademark registration take in Germany? The DPMA states that registration usually takes a few weeks or months, longer if there are objections, and that processing is currently slower. Accelerated examination (EUR 200) requires a decision within six months of filing if the applicant cooperates. ### Does the German Patent and Trade Mark Office check for similar trademarks? No. The DPMA examines only absolute grounds for refusal; owners of earlier marks must file an opposition within 3 months of publication of the registration. ### Do foreign applicants need a representative in Germany? Yes. Applicants without a residence, principal place of business or establishment in Germany must appoint a patent attorney or lawyer as domestic representative. ### Is Germany part of the Madrid Protocol? Yes. The Madrid Protocol has been in force for Germany since 20 March 1996. ## Sources - DPMA - Trade mark fees: https://dpma.de/english/services/fees/trademarks/index.html - DPMA - Trade marks: https://www.dpma.de/english/trade_marks/index.html - DPMA - Examination, registration and renewal: https://www.dpma.de/english/trade_marks/examination_registration_and_renewal/index.html - DPMA - Opposition and cancellation: https://www.dpma.de/english/trade_marks/opposition_and_cancellation/index.html - DPMA - Trade mark FAQ: https://www.dpma.de/english/trade_marks/faq/index.html - Trade Mark Act (MarkenG), English translation: https://bundesrecht.juris.de/englisch_markeng/englisch_markeng.pdf - WIPO - Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=8 Need a firm that files in Germany? Find one at https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/germany (TrademarksHub lists IP firms by country; featured placements are paid and labelled). General information, not legal advice.