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To register a trademark in the European Union, non-resident applicants need to work with the Office through the registered European Patent Attorneys.
Our company established its own office in the EU — in Vilnius, Lithuania — in 2010. Since its opening, Juozas Lapienis, a full-time European Patent Attorney, has been leading operations there. Over the years, we have filed more than 250 applications for European trademark registration for the clients from Ukraine, the CIS, the USA, China, and other countries.
Ways to protect a trademark
There are several options for securing trademark protection in the European Union, depending on the applicant’s business goals:
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National Trademark Registration
It involves filing separate applications with the national intellectual property offices of each country. This approach is suitable if the applicant is interested in protecting a trademark in only one or a few European Union countries. -
European Union Trademark Registration
This option allows for the registration of a single trademark through the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), providing legal protection across all 27 EU member states. It is the most efficient route for applicants intending to conduct business throughout the entire EU or in most of its countries. -
International Registration under the Madrid System
Through the Madrid System, applicants can seek trademark protection in multiple countries — including the EU as a designated region — by submitting a single application. This method is recommended when trademark protection is sought not only in the EU but also in numerous other countries around the world.
Regional registration procedure
One of the most efficient ways to register a trademark in the European Union is through the regional procedure — by submitting an application directly to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
Looking to reduce the cost of registration? You may be eligible for a partial reimbursement of official fees through the SME Fund program. This initiative offers grants to support small and medium-sized enterprises. Be sure to explore the available funding options and check if you meet the eligibility criteria!
Trademark applications in the EU can be submitted by individuals, legal entities, or groups of individuals. However, applicants based outside the EU must be represented by a registered European Patent Attorney.
After an application is filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), it is examined for compliance with formal requirements and for the absence of absolute grounds for refusal of registration. At the applicant’s request, the Office can also perform a search to identify any identical or similar trademarks that have already been registered or filed within the EU.
If the application successfully passes this stage, it is published in the official gazette. From the date of publication, a three-month opposition period begins, during which any interested party may object to the registration of the trademark.
If no objections are filed against the application or if they are successfully overcome, the trademark is registered, published in the official gazette, and an electronic certificate is issued.
Advantages of the regional registration procedure
Beyond the fact that legal protection of the EU trademark is granted throughout its territory, this procedure also has a number of practical benefits:
- Centralised filing of an application with one office in one of the official languages of the European Union (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian);
- Filing an application with uniform formal requirements;
- Centralised payment of fees for renewal of the certificate.
The disadvantage of this procedure is that in case of refusal to register in one of the EU countries, the trademark is automatically refused in all other countries as well. However, there is a so-called conversion procedure. This procedure allows the EU trademark application to be transformed into national applications in selected EU countries, while preserving the original priority date.
If you have any further questions regarding the registration of a trademark in the European Union, please contact our head office or our branch office in Lithuania. We will be happy to assist you.
