EU/Madrid Single Country Trademark Registration

I. Business Details

The European Union trademark, also known as the European Community Trade Mark (abbreviated as CTM), is administered by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) located in Alicante, Spain.

Applicants for an EU trademark are not limited to nationals of EU member states; nationals of other countries, such as members of the Paris Convention or the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), may also apply.

Community trademark registration follows the first-to-file principle. Types of trademark registration include product trademarks, service trademarks, collective trademarks, three-dimensional trademarks, color trademarks, sound trademarks, and scent trademarks. The classification of goods and services follows the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks.

An EU trademark registration requires only one application to secure protection in all 27 member states. The list of member states is as follows: Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Greece, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia.

A single trademark application can cover up to three classes of goods or services. For applications exceeding three classes, an additional fee is required per class.

The protection period for an EU trademark is ten years, renewable indefinitely for subsequent ten-year periods.

II. Benefits of Registering an EU Trademark

1. Centralized Protection Process

One trademark registration provides protection in all 27 EU member states, and any rulings related to the trademark will be enforceable across the entire EU.

2. Low Cost

Only one application is required to use the trademark across all 27 EU member states. Compared to filing separate applications in each member country, the cost is significantly reduced. Renewal fees are also relatively low.

Ease of Meeting Usage Requirements

An EU trademark grants the registrant a five-year grace period during which the trademark remains protected even if not used. Before the end of this grace period, using the trademark in just one EU member state is sufficient to defend against cancellation requests based on non-use.

3. Priority Under the Paris Convention

Registering an EU trademark grants priority rights under the Paris Convention. If the same trademark is used for one or more designated goods or services and an application is filed in a Paris Convention member country, a Community trademark application filed within six months may claim priority.

4. Rights Based on Earlier Applications

All prior rights within EU member states are recognized. A trademark already registered and published in one EU member state may claim priority when applying for an EU trademark.

5. Policy Incentives

For registering overseas trademarks, enterprises and individuals in Shenzhen can receive up to RMB 500,000 in annual government subsidies. Trademarks registered via the Madrid System are subsidized RMB 2,000 by the Shenzhen government; those registered through the EU or the African Intellectual Property Organization receive RMB 10,000 per mark; and trademarks registered in other single countries, such as the United States, receive RMB 5,000 per mark.

III. Required Materials

1. Applicant Information

2. Clear Trademark Image in JPG Format

3. Names and Classes of Goods/Services

4. Trademark Registration Power of Attorney

IV. Additional Information

1. Services for Foreign Trademark Registration

2. Detailed Trademark Search and Inquiry

3. Professional Advice and Multiple Strategies for Trademark Registration and Portfolio Planning

4. Preparation and Submission of Trademark Application Documents, Follow-Up During Registration, and Timely Feedback and Handling

5. Tracking and Monitoring of Trademark Application Progress Until Examination Results Are Issued