Intellectual Property Law · European Union
Protect Your Brand Across All of Europe With a Single EU Trademark
One application to the EUIPO can secure your name or logo in every EU member state at once — but only if the search, classes and filing are done correctly. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted lawyer who handles EU trade mark (EUTM) applications, oppositions and renewals every day.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- EUIPO specialists across the EU
- No fee to get matched
No commitment. No hidden fees.
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Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Who this is for
One filing, 27 markets — if you get it right
An EU trade mark (EUTM), filed through the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), offers a single registration that can protect your brand across all EU member states at once. It is a cost-effective alternative to filing separate national applications in every country where you trade, and it can be managed — renewed, licensed and enforced — through one central system. But the route has its own strict rules: the mark must be distinctive and free of conflicts across the entire EU, and a single earlier mark in any one member state can sink the whole application. Examiners and opponents scrutinise the description of goods and services closely, and mistakes can be expensive to correct. Done properly, however, an EUTM gives a growing business a genuinely Europe-wide brand right.
Why EUTM applications stall
A single conflict anywhere in the EU
can block your mark everywhere
The EUTM is powerful precisely because it covers the whole EU — which also means one earlier right can defeat it.
One national mark blocks all 27
Because an EUTM must be valid across the entire EU, a conflicting earlier mark in a single member state can force refusal or cancellation of your whole European registration — a risk a proper search should reveal first.
Distinctiveness tested EU-wide
A word that seems distinctive to you may be descriptive or common in another EU language, leading to refusal. Multilingual checks are essential and frequently overlooked.
Renewal and use obligations
An EUTM must be renewed and genuinely used across the EU; failure to use it in the territory can make it vulnerable to cancellation by a third party after a period of time.
What you get
A Europe-wide brand, filed correctly the first time
We match you with EU trademark specialists who file and manage EUTM applications at the EUIPO daily.
EU-wide clearance
Your lawyer runs comprehensive searches across the EUIPO register and national offices, and checks for linguistic and cultural conflicts, before you commit to a filing.
Single-application filing
The entire EUTM application is prepared and submitted to the EUIPO, with the right classes and a clear specification of goods and services that minimises objections.
Opposition & cancellation defence
If a third party opposes your mark, or attacks it later, your lawyer builds the evidence and arguments to defend your registration through the EUIPO’s procedures.
Renewal & portfolio care
Renewal deadlines and genuine-use obligations are tracked and managed on your behalf, so your Europe-wide right never lapses through a simple oversight or a missed fee.
Coverage
One trademark, the whole European Union
An EU trade mark covers all EU member states through a single EUIPO application, while national and international (Madrid) routes remain useful in specific situations. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
EU trademark registration — common questions
What is an EU trade mark (EUTM)?
An EU trade mark is a single registration, granted by the EUIPO, that protects a sign — a word, logo or combination — across all EU member states at once. It is managed through one central system and offers a cost-effective route to Europe-wide brand protection.
Which countries does an EUTM cover?
An EUTM covers all current EU member states. It does not cover non-EU European countries such as the UK, Norway or Switzerland, where separate national or international protection may be needed — a lawyer can advise on the full picture.
How is an EUTM different from a national trademark?
A national mark protects you in one country, while an EUTM provides one registration valid across the whole EU. The EUTM is efficient when you trade in several EU countries, but a single earlier conflict anywhere in the EU can jeopardise the entire registration.
What does it cost to register an EU trademark?
Fees depend on the number of classes and whether objections or oppositions arise, and official EUIPO fees are published and regularly updated. A lawyer can give you a clear, current estimate for your specific mark and classes before you file.
Can my EUTM application be refused?
Yes. The EUIPO can refuse marks that are descriptive, non-distinctive or deceptive, and third parties can oppose on the basis of earlier rights. Searches and careful drafting before filing significantly reduce these risks.
What does ‘genuine use’ mean for an EUTM?
To keep an EUTM, it generally must be put to genuine use for the registered goods and services within the EU within a set period, otherwise a third party may apply to cancel it. A lawyer can explain what counts as genuine use in your situation.
Free case review
One application can protect your brand across Europe
Tell us about your mark and the countries you sell into, and we’ll connect you with an EU trademark lawyer who files EUTM applications at the EUIPO every day — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.