A trademark is any sign that distinguishes your goods or services from those of other businesses. It is the legal foundation of your brand.
ArticleTrademark renewal - keeping your rights alive
Registered trademarks must be renewed every 10 years. Failure to renew results in expiry and loss of protection.
A registered EU trademark is valid for 10 years from the date of filing. It can be renewed indefinitely for successive 10-year periods, making trademark protection potentially perpetual - provided you renew and continue using the mark.
Renewal timeline
Renewal must be filed within the 6-month period before expiry. A 6-month grace period after expiry is also available, but late renewal incurs an additional fee. Patentir tracks all renewal deadlines automatically and alerts you in advance.
Renewal fees
The EUIPO renewal fee is €850 for the first class, €50 for the second class and €150 for each class from the third onwards. Renewing for fewer classes than originally registered is permitted if commercial use has narrowed.
Non-use and partial renewal
If you are no longer using the trademark in certain classes, you may choose not to renew those classes. This reduces fees and avoids vulnerability to non-use cancellation attacks.
More articles
Intellectual property protection comes in several forms. Understanding the differences helps you choose the right tool.
The European Union Intellectual Property Office manages EU trademarks and designs - covering all 27 member states in a single registration.
Registering a trademark follows a structured process. Understanding each stage helps you set the right expectations and avoid delays.
Registration timelines vary by office and complexity. A straightforward EU trademark typically takes 4 to 6 months from filing to registration.
There are two separate reasons a trademark application can fail. Either the name is not something any single business is allowed to monopolise, or it collides with a trademark that already exists. The two are assessed at different stages, and they need different fixes.
Trademarks are registered for specific goods and services, organised into 45 classes under the Nice Agreement - a global system used by over 150 countries.
A structured overview of all 45 trademark classes, grouped by goods and services.
Registration is not the end of the process - it is the beginning. Monitoring ensures your mark is not diluted or infringed without your knowledge.
If a newly published trademark conflicts with yours, you can challenge it during the opposition period. Here is how the process works.
A registered trademark can be cancelled if it has not been genuinely used for 5 consecutive years. Here is what you need to know.
