How to Register an EU Trademark (EUTM)

EU trademark registration at a glance

What is an EU Trade Mark (EUTM)?

An EUTM gives you trademark protection across all 27 EU member states with a single application filed at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain.

Since Brexit, an EUTM no longer covers the United Kingdom. If you need UK protection, you must file a separate application with the UK IPO.

Step 1: Search for conflicts

Before filing, search for existing marks that could conflict with yours. EUIPO provides some search tools, but they only cover EU registrations. Use Trademark Dashboard to search UK, EU, and US registers simultaneously with phonetic analysis.

Step 2: Choose your Nice classes

Like UK trademarks, EUTMs use the Nice Classification system. The EUIPO pricing encourages filing in two classes (€900 for two vs €850 for one), so consider whether a second class makes sense for your business.

Step 3: File online at EUIPO

EUIPO offers an online filing system. Using pre-approved terms from the Harmonised Database qualifies you for "Fast Track" examination, which can significantly speed up the process.

Step 4: Examination

EUIPO examiners check for absolute grounds (descriptiveness, genericness) but do not examine for prior rights. This means your application won't be refused just because a similar mark exists - but the owner of that mark can oppose it.

Step 5: Opposition period

After publication, there is a 3-month opposition period (longer than the UK's 2 months). Third parties can file oppositions based on earlier rights in any EU member state.

Step 6: Registration

If no opposition is filed, your EUTM is registered and valid for 10 years, renewable indefinitely.

UK + EU: Do you need both?

If you do business in both the UK and EU, you need separate registrations. Many businesses file both simultaneously to ensure maximum protection from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an EU trademark cost?

An EUTM costs €850 for one class, €900 for two classes, and €150 for each additional class when filed online. This single registration covers all 27 EU member states.

Does an EU trademark cover the UK after Brexit?

No. Since 1 January 2021, EU trademarks no longer cover the UK. You need separate registrations. Existing EUTMs held before Brexit were automatically cloned to the UK register.

How long does EU trademark registration take?

Registration typically takes 5–6 months if no oppositions are filed. Fast-track applications using pre-approved terms can be processed more quickly.