Most IP assets, like trade marks, designs and patents, must be registered with an IP office to secure legal protection. For some IP rights, such as copyrights and trade secrets, the protection is automatic once specific requirements laid down by the law are met.

• Learn more on how to protect your original literary, scientific, and artistic works by copyright

• Learn more on how to protect trade secrets

Where can I register my IPRs (trade marks, designs, patents, utility models, plant varieties and geographical indications)?

Before you apply to register your IPR, you should consider where you would like to protect it. This will largely be related to where you intend to do business or use your innovation: at national level, European/EU level, or international level.

• National level: the conditions and requirements for registration may differ across countries. Please contact the IP Office in your country or check their website for more information about the procedure.

• European or EU level: depending on the type of IPR you wish to register, you can file your application with the following institutions:
   

  • EU trade marks: at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO);

  • EU designs: at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO);

  • European Patents: a bundle of national patents, which can be obtained by a single application filed with the European Patent Office (EPO) but with the need of being validated   later by the national patent offices of the contracting states selected by the applicant to be effective. European patent with unitary effect in 18 EU Member States can be obtained as of 1 September 2024;

  • Plant varieties: at the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO);

  • Geographical indications: The application for registration of names of specific products (wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, and craft and industrial products) to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their geographical origin as well as traditional know-how, must, in general, be filed before the Member States competent authority. The application is scrutinised by the national Member States competent authorities and undergoes a national opposition process. If the authorities take a favourable decision on approval, they will forward the application to the European Commission (in case of GIs for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products) or to the EUIPO (in case of GIs for craft and industrial products) for the second phase of scrutiny at EU level including an opposition process at EU level. Where the Commission or the EUIPO considers that the registration conditions are fulfilled, the name will be registered and published in the corresponding Union register of geographical indications. By way of a derogation, some Member States are exempt to conduct a national phase for the registration of a name as a geographical indication for craft and industrial products. In these cases, the applicant can submit its application for registration directly to the EUIPO which will conduct the registration process (direct procedure), including an opposition process at EU level, and if it considers that the conditions are fulfilled will register and publish the name in the Union Register of geographical indications for craft and industrial products.

The EUIPO has been given the role of the EU competent authority in respect for GIs for craft and industrial products pursuant to the Regulation that has entered into force today. From 1 December 2025, it will be possible to apply for the registration in the EU of the names of craft and industrial products meeting the necessary requirements through a single GI application covering all EU Member States.

Useful link on geographical indications:

• GIview: database of GIs in the European Union and beyond
• EUIPO GI hub
  • International level: you have two choices for protecting your IPRs: either submit your application through the IP Office of the country where you seek protection, or make use of a single application within the following systems provided by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); 

1. Trade marks: Madrid System – The International Trade mark System

2. Designs: Hague System – The International Design System

3. Patents: PCT – The International Patent System

4. Geographical indications: Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications

5. Plant varieties: Plant Variety Protection (UPOV)

Application fees

Investing in protecting your IP is a strategic move with varying costs, depending on your IP's geographical scope. It might even be more affordable than you think. Remember, these fees are a small price for the substantial value your protected IP can bring to your business.

• National level: the fees for protecting your assets vary by country and IP type. Contact your local IP Office to learn more about the specific costs involved.
• European or EU level: fees vary depending on the IPR you want to register. Links to the relevant offices and their fees can be found below.

  • Trade marks: Fees for trade marks at the EUIPO

  • Designs: Fees for EU designs at the EUIPO

  • Patents: Fees for patents at the EPO

  • Plant varieties: Fees and general payments at the CPVO

  • Geographical indications: MS authorities can offer more information as they may charge a fee to cover the costs of managing quality schemes (processing applications, statements of opposition, applications for amendments and requests for cancellation).

• International level: WIPO offers a range of information regarding the fees.

How to register – Basic steps

The requirements may vary depending on the type of IPR you want to protect and the country in which you seek protection. However, there are some general steps that could help you get started with your application:

Before filing the application

Before investing money in registering your IPRs, you have to be sure that your intangible assets are suitable for registration and are actually available. The IP registration process can be complex; therefore, it may be helpful to contact an IP expert to support you prior to and during the registration process. Some general aspects to be taken into consideration are the following:

• Identify your IP assets and if they are eligible for registration;
• Determine the level of confidentiality prior to registration (e.g. do not disclose information on a potential patent or design);
• Conduct a search in the market and in existing IP databases (IPOs, EUIPO, EPO, WIPO, CPVO register for plant varieties, GIview for Geographical Indications); and additional search in the domain name (e.g EURID) and company name registers (national and regional) is highly recommended;
• Establish an IP business strategy;
• Decide where to apply and scope of protection for your IPRs (relevant for trade marks).

Application process

The application process differs depending on the type of IP you apply for and the authority dealing with the registration.

Contact the IP Office in your country for more information on any specific aspect relating to the application process in your country.

If you need more information about the application process at the European, EU, or international levels, you can check the following useful links:

• Registration process of trade marks at the EUIPO
• Registration process of EU designs at the EUIPO
• Preparing and filing a European patent application (EPO)
• Filing an application at the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)
• Applications to register new GI products
• EUIPO GI hub 

After filing the application

What follows are the common steps after filing an application:

• Wait for examination: the IP Office will examine your application to determine if it meets the requirements and standards. Examination time will vary depending on the IP Office/competent authority and type of IP right. For more information about this step, please contact the authority where you have applied for IP protection or check their website;

• Receipt of the decision on registration: if your application is approved, you will receive a certificate of registration for your IPR; some decisions on grant of protection may be conditional and depend on payment of a suitable registration, publication fees or fee for the first protection period;

• Maintaining the registration: to maintain your IPR registration you will need to pay the necessary fees, renewing it as required and recording any changes.

How to maintain the registration

The duration of IPR protection varies depending on the IPR you own. Do not let your guard down – remember to launch the renewal procedure and pay the associated fees on time.

• Trade marks: they can be renewed indefinitely every 10 years, although this term may vary depending on the applicable legislation in the territory you have chosen. Be aware that you lose your rights if you do not use your trade mark within 5 years of registration. Additionally, a third party may oppose your trade mark, which may lead to your rights being cancelled. The relevant IP Office can provide you with more specific information regarding trade mark protection.

  Useful link:

  • Renewal of a European Union trade mark

• Designs: the maximum duration of a EU design is 25 years. Keep in mind that renewal fees are due every five years to ensure continued protection. In all EU MS, you can protect your design for three years without registration. The design will be protected from the day the design is made available to the public (disclosed) in an EU MS. The first disclosure must have taken place in an EU MS. An unregistered EU design must fulfil the same requirements as a registered EU design. However, it should be noted that this protection is not as strong as a registration. It only protects the design if you can prove that others have deliberately copied your design, and you must also be able to prove that you were the first to publish your design. For more specific information about the protection of designs in your country, please contact the IP Office in your country.

  Useful links:

  • Registered EU designs (REUD) 

  • Renewal of a registered EU design

• Patents: The maximum duration of an EU patent is 20 years from the date of filing. A first annuity is paid three years after filing. The subsequent annuities must be paid every year. For more specific information about the protection of patents in your country, please contact the IP Office in your country.

  Useful link:

  • Renewal fees and application procedure for European patents at the European Patent Office (EPO)

• Utility models: in the EU, utility models only exist in the following countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. The requirements and procedures to obtain a utility model vary in different countries, as does the duration of protection (often from 6 to 10 years from the filing date). For more specific information about the protection of utility models in your country, please contact the IP Office in the country you want to seek the protection.

• Plant varieties: at the EU level, once granted, plant variety protection is valid for a maximum duration of 25 years, or 30 years, among others, vines, trees, asparagus and potatoes. An annual fee must be paid to maintain the protection of your plant variety. For more specific information about the protection of plant varieties in your country, please contact the IP Office in your country.

  Useful link:

  • Renewal fees and general payments at the CPVO

• Geographical indications: GIs are granted for an unlimited duration period. However, registered GIs may be object of a cancellation action where compliance with the conditions of the product specification is no longer ensured or where no product has been placed on the market under the protected GI for at least seven years. The European Commission will take the final decision on whether to cancel a registered GI.