Insights · Trademarks
How to Register an EU Trade Mark
An EU trade mark gives you a single right that protects your brand across the entire European Union from one application. It is filed at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante and, once registered, applies in all 27 member states at once. Below is what the registration covers, what the office charges in 2026, how the process runs, and the one step that most often goes wrong.
What this registration gives you
A registered EU trade mark is a unitary right: one filing, one registration, and protection that extends to all 27 EU member states together rather than country by country. You can register a word mark (the name itself, in any font or styling), a figurative mark (a logo or stylised design), or both as separate applications. For a brand name, a word mark protects the wording independently of how it is written, which is why many businesses file a word mark and a logo mark side by side. The right lasts 10 years from filing and can be renewed indefinitely.
What it costs in 2026
| First class (online filing) | €850 |
| Second class | +€50 |
| Each additional class (3rd onward) | +€150 |
These are EUIPO office fees only for an online application; they do not include professional or representation costs. Classes follow the Nice Classification, and the number of classes you need depends on the goods and services your brand covers.
Whether €850 feels high or modest depends on what you compare it to. For a single class, that one fee buys protection in 27 national markets at once — filing separately in each country would mean 27 applications, 27 fee schedules and 27 procedures to manage. Seen per country, the EU route is efficient. The figure is still a real budget item, though, and it rises with each extra class, so it pays to scope your classes precisely before filing rather than adding them defensively.
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 EU mark distinct
The defining feature of an EU trade mark is its unitary character: it is granted, transferred, renewed or refused for the whole Union as a single object — it cannot be limited to some member states only. Two practical points follow from this:- One earlier right can block the whole filing. A conflicting mark in even a single member state can stand in the way of the entire EU application, which is why a clearance search across the EU matters before you file.
- It can act as a basic mark for going global. A registered EU trade mark can serve as the basis for an international application through the WIPO Madrid System, letting you extend protection to further countries from this one foundation.
The process, step by step
- Run a clearance search. Check for identical or similar earlier marks across the EU and confirm your name is not descriptive of the goods or services you sell.
- Prepare your classes. Decide whether you are filing a word mark, a figurative mark or both, and list the goods and services under the correct Nice classes.
- File via the EUIPO User Area. Submit the application online and pay the office fee (€850 for the first class, plus the per-class amounts for any additional classes).
- Examination. EUIPO checks formalities and absolute grounds — for example whether the mark is descriptive or non-distinctive.
- Publication and opposition. The application is published, opening a 3-month opposition window during which holders of earlier rights can object.
- Registration. If no opposition is filed, or any opposition is resolved in your favour, the mark proceeds to registration.
The trap to plan for
The 3-month opposition window starts before you do
The most expensive mistake is filing before you have done the groundwork. EUIPO does not refuse your mark simply because an earlier brand exists — instead, after publication, anyone holding an earlier right has three months to oppose. A single overlapping earlier mark, anywhere in the EU, can cost you the application, the fees you paid and several months of waiting.
The defence is upstream, not downstream: a proper clearance search and correct classification before you file. Getting the name and the classes right at the start is what keeps the opposition window quiet.
Keeping the mark alive
An EU trade mark is registered for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely in further 10-year terms. There is no upper limit on the number of renewals, so a mark that is properly maintained — and genuinely used — can be kept in force for as long as the brand exists. Diarising the renewal date well ahead of the deadline avoids an accidental lapse.
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
What does an EU trade mark actually cover?
It is a single unitary right that protects your mark in all 27 EU member states from one filing. You can register a word mark, a figurative (logo) mark, or both.
How much does it cost to file at EUIPO in 2026?
The online office fee is €850 for the first class, €50 for a second class, and €150 for each additional class from the third onward. These are EUIPO fees only and exclude any representation costs.
What is the difference between a word mark and a figurative mark?
A word mark protects the name itself regardless of the font or styling used. A figurative mark protects a specific logo or design. For a brand name, many applicants file a word mark, and often a logo mark alongside it.
What is the opposition window and why does it matter?
After your application is published, holders of earlier rights have three months to oppose it. This is why a clearance search and correct classification before filing are so important — one overlapping earlier right can cost the mark, the fees and months of time.
How long does the registration last, and can I extend protection abroad?
Registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely. A registered EU trade mark can also serve as the basic mark to extend protection to other countries through the WIPO Madrid System.
Sources
Where this comes from
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.
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