EU Design: Which Official Fees Does the EUIPO Charge?

If you file a registered EU design with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), you should keep an eye not only on the application fee but also on the later renewal fees. Protection initially lasts five years and can then be extended step by step up to a maximum of 25 years — uniformly across all 27 EU member states. Since the EU Design Reform of 1 May 2025, new fees apply.

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How long does it take from filing a German patent application to patent grant?

Anyone who files a patent application usually wants to know early on: When will it become a granted patent?

There is no general answer to this question. The duration of a German patent grant procedure depends not only on the processing time at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office, but also on the chosen filing strategy.

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How Much Intellectual Property Is Behind the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

When the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in the summer, the whole world will be watching the action on the pitch. But it is also worth taking a look behind the scenes: few events bring together so many industrial property rights in such a concentrated space as a World Cup tournament. Even the ball rolling across the grass is a small lesson in intellectual property.

Selected IP rights show how patents, designs and trademarks interact in modern football.

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PCT application: Entry into the German national phase – deadline, requirements and official fees

An international patent application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) gives applicants the advantage of initially covering more than 150 contracting states with a single filing. However, this does not yet create patent protection in Germany. By the end of the international phase at the latest, the application must be moved into the national phase before the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) or into the European regional phase before the European Patent Office (EPO). Applicants opting for the direct route via the DPMA should pay particular attention to the 31-month deadline as well as the required formalities and official fees.

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German Trade Mark: What Official Fees Are Charged by the DPMA?

Anyone filing a trade mark application with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) should pay particular attention to the number of classes of goods and services. The official basic fee covers up to three classes; from the fourth class onward, an additional class fee is charged for each further class. The official costs therefore depend significantly on the goods or services for which trade mark protection is claimed.

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German Utility Model: What official fees are charged by the DPMA?

The German utility model is particularly attractive for many technical IP protection strategies primarily because it can be registered relatively quickly. Unlike a patent, the DPMA does not comprehensively examine before registration whether the invention is actually new and inventive. Precisely for that reason, the utility model is not a “small patent,” but an independent intellectual property right with its own fee structure.

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Trademark Applications in Berlin 2025: Top Applicants and Market Development at a Glance

Berlin remains a strong trademark hub. In 2025, a total of 6,391 trademark applications were filed by companies and private individuals based in Berlin. This was 1,253 more applications than in 2024, representing an increase of around 24.4%.

After the decline between 2022 and 2024, filing activity has picked up noticeably again. The 2025 figure is only slightly below the previous peak recorded in 2021.

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