Insights · Trademarks
How to Register a Trademark in Germany (DPMA)
A German national trademark is filed with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt, DPMA). It protects your sign across Germany and runs for ten years from the filing date, renewable for further ten-year periods. This guide outlines the official fees, the steps involved and the points that most often cause problems.
What this registration gives you
A registered German trademark gives you an exclusive right to use the protected sign for the goods and services you have claimed, with effect throughout Germany. Protectable signs include words, word combinations, word/figurative combinations, pure figurative marks, and also abstract colours, holograms, multimedia signs and sounds. Goods and services are assigned to the 45 classes of the Nice Classification. Protection lasts ten years from the filing date and can be renewed for further ten-year periods without limit.
What it costs in 2026
| Application, up to 3 classes (electronic, DPMAdirektWeb/Pro) | €290 |
| Application, up to 3 classes (paper) | €300 |
| Each additional class from the 4th (at application) | €100 |
| Accelerated examination | €200 |
| Opposition (per earlier mark) | €250 |
| Renewal, up to 3 classes | €750 |
| Renewal, each additional class from the 4th | €260 |
These are official DPMA fees only and do not include any professional or representation costs. The application fee already covers up to three classes; the per-class fee applies from the fourth class onward. The application and class fees must be credited within three months of filing, otherwise the application is deemed withdrawn; these fees are not refundable.
For a single mark in up to three classes filed electronically, the base official fee is €290. Adding classes (from the fourth) costs €100 each at filing. Optional accelerated examination is €200. Budgeting beyond filing helps too: renewal after ten years is €750 for up to three classes, and defending your mark may involve opposition (€250 per earlier mark) if a conflict arises.
Done for you
Prefer to have it handled?
From the clearance search to filing and opposition defence, Rabbit Marketing can manage your trademark end to end — in the EU and, through the Madrid System, worldwide. Tell us your brand and the goods or services it covers, and we will send you a tailored proposal.
Request a quote → Book a consultation →Filing basis and what makes the German route distinctive
A DPMA registration is a national right that takes effect in Germany only. A key feature of the German system is the limited scope of official examination:- Absolute grounds only: the DPMA checks only absolute grounds for refusal under § 8 MarkenG (for example, signs that are purely descriptive, such as a generic term for the goods themselves).
- No check of earlier marks: the office does not examine relative grounds during the application procedure, i.e. it does not check whether earlier trademarks or third-party rights conflict with your registration.
- International reach: a German mark can serve as the basic mark for an international (Madrid) registration; protection in other countries requires a separate route. An EU trademark, filed separately with the EUIPO, is an independent right covering the entire EU.
The process, step by step
- Clearance search: because the DPMA does not check earlier rights, search the register yourself for identical or similar earlier marks before filing.
- Define the sign and goods/services: decide on the mark type (word, figurative, word/figurative and others) and assign your goods and services to the relevant Nice classes (45-class system).
- Choose a filing channel: file online via DPMAdirektWeb (basket function, no signature card needed), via DPMAdirektPro (special software plus signature card and reader), or on paper using the official forms.
- Pay the fees: credit the application and any class fees within three months of filing; otherwise the application is deemed withdrawn. Optionally request accelerated examination (€200).
- Examination: the DPMA examines only absolute grounds for refusal under § 8 MarkenG.
- Registration and publication: if the requirements are met and no absolute grounds apply, the DPMA enters the mark in the register, publishes it in the Trade Mark Journal (Markenblatt) and issues a certificate of registration.
- Opposition window: holders of earlier rights may file an opposition within three months of publication of the registration.
The most common mistake
The DPMA does not check earlier trademarks for you
Many applicants assume that a granted registration means the mark is free of conflicts. It does not. The DPMA examines only absolute grounds (§ 8 MarkenG) and does not check whether your mark collides with earlier trademarks. Conflicts are raised only by the owners of earlier rights, through opposition or later cancellation proceedings. Note the German order of events: unlike the EU procedure, the DPMA registers the mark first and the three-month opposition period (§ 42 MarkenG) starts only after publication of the registration. Holders of earlier registered marks, EU trademarks and international registrations can use this window, so a thorough clearance search before filing is essential.
Keeping the trademark alive
Protection runs for ten years from the filing date and can be renewed for further ten-year periods without limit (renewal: €750 for up to three classes, plus €260 per additional class). The DPMA sends a reminder before expiry but accepts no liability for it, so track the deadline yourself. A registered mark also carries a use requirement: a German trademark becomes vulnerable to cancellation for non-use if it is not genuinely used within five years. An applicant need not use the mark either at filing or immediately after registration, but should plan to put it into genuine use before the five-year grace period ends.
For your brand
Built on first-hand experience
Rabbit Marketing does not only advise on trademarks — we hold our own registered EU trademarks and have direct, hands-on experience of EUIPO opposition proceedings, including matters involving major multinational companies. That means we read these filings the way an owner does, not just an observer. We help you clear, file and protect a brand across the offices that matter to you.
Talk to us about your brand →FAQ
Questions, answered
How much does it cost to register a trademark in Germany?
The official DPMA application fee is €290 when filed electronically (or €300 on paper), covering up to three classes. Each class from the fourth onward costs €100 at filing. These are official fees only and exclude any professional costs.
How long does German trademark protection last?
Protection runs for ten years from the filing date and can be renewed for further ten-year periods without limit. Renewal costs €750 for up to three classes, plus €260 per additional class.
Does the DPMA check whether my mark conflicts with earlier trademarks?
No. The DPMA examines only absolute grounds for refusal under § 8 MarkenG. It does not check earlier marks. Owners of earlier rights must file an opposition (within three months of publication of the registration) or pursue cancellation themselves, so a clearance search before filing is important.
Can I file the application online?
Yes. You can file via DPMAdirektWeb, which offers a basket function and does not require a signature card, or via DPMAdirektPro, which needs special software, a signature card and a card reader. Paper filing with the official forms is also possible.
Do I have to use the trademark right away?
You need not use the mark at filing or immediately after registration. However, a German mark becomes vulnerable to cancellation for non-use if it is not genuinely used within five years.
Sources
Where this comes from
- DPMA – Trade marks (overview)
- DPMA – Trade mark application (filing channels)
- DPMA – Examination, registration and renewal
- DPMA – Opposition and cancellation
- DPMA – Fees for trade marks
Research date: June 2026. Official fees and procedures change periodically — confirm current figures on the relevant office’s website before you file. This is general information, not legal advice. Company and brand names are used for editorial reference only and imply no affiliation with Rabbit-Marketing OÜ.
Related