Anyone filing a German design with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) should keep an eye not only on the filing fee, but also on the subsequent maintenance fees. Design protection is initially granted for five years and can then be extended step by step up to a maximum of 25 years.
Filing Fee for a Design
The official filing fee is currently EUR 60 for electronic filing and EUR 70 for paper filing.
Maintenance fees up to the maximum term
The following fees are charged by the DPMA for further maintenance:
- EUR 90 for the 6th to 10th year of protection
- EUR 120 for the 11th to 15th year of protection
- EUR 150 for the 16th to 20th year of protection
- EUR 180 for the 21st to 25th year of protection
Anyone filing electronically and maintaining the design for the full term of 25 years will therefore incur a total of EUR 600 in official fees.
Special Feature: Multiple Application
Several designs can be filed together in a multiple application. The cost advantage mainly lies in the filing itself, since the minimum fee for electronic filing already covers up to ten designs. However, the subsequent maintenance fees must again be paid separately for each registered design.