A Trademark grants the owner of the sign the exclusive right to use it for certain goods and services in the country or group of countries (e.g. the European Union) the trademark is registered for.
The key legal provisions for Germany are contained in the Trademark Act (MarkenG) and, at the European level, in the Union Trademark Regulation (EUTMR). For other countries, the respective national trademark regulations apply.
Trademark law is of fundamental importance for almost all companies, as it ensures that their goods and services are distinguishable from those of other companies. In addition, trademarks are especially valuable for their advertising and communication function and an IP asset, trademarks also create enterprise value.
Unlike all other industrial property rights, your trademark portfolio can be protected for an unlimited period of time if it is renewed and used accordingly.
Trademark protection is usually obtained by filing an application and registering it with the relevant trademark office.
Even before filing a trademark application, you should consider the right trademark strategy. This strategy often determines the effectiveness of trademark protection and thus the success of a product.
Already before Registration of a trademark you should consider the right brand strategy. This strategy often determines the effectiveness of brand protection and thus the success of a product and the company producing it.
It is therefore important to check in advance whether there are any potential obstacles to protection under trademark law and any older conflicting trademarks and signs to avoid problems during the registration process or even being sued for trademark infringement. Whether there are older trademarks that could be problematic can be determined through a professional similarity search can determine whether there are older trademarks that could be problematic, as owners of older rights can file an objection to the application. Even after successful registration, a trademark can be cancelled, if the trademark has not been used or another trademark owner can prove older rights. In order to protect and defend ones trademarks, trademark owners should seriously consider trademark monitoring in order to defend their signs against the registration of similar marks at an early stage.
Once a trademark is registered, it grants its owner the sole right to commercially exploit it themselves or license it to third parties. as well The transfer of trademarks is also a regular topic. Especially in the context of company acquisitions, a due diligence of intellectual property rights can be the decisive argument for or against a merger or acquisition.
Trademark infringement can be effectively defended by the means of cease and warnings,, preliminary injunctions and lawsuits. other instruments The claims range from information of the infringement, damages, elimination of the infringement, recalls. In Germany, trademark owners can also can claim and enforce the reimbursement of the necessary lawyers' fees. Criminal prosecution and impoundments at the customs of infringing goods imported or exported is also possible.
For the effective and professional creation of a trade mark strategy and the swift and legally secure enforcement of your trade mark rights, it is advisable to seek expert legal advice.
Our expertise in trademark law
Our firm has an extensive expertise in trademark strategy, licensing agreements, enforcement, prosecution and litigation. We are pleased to repeatedly have been recognized for our trademark practice by the WTR 1000 ranking of the World Trademark Review, Best Lawyers, Handelsblatt and brandeins.We advise our clients on all matters relating to trademarks and related signs. We register trademarks in Germany, Europe and worldwide, conduct opposition and appeal proceedings and monitor registered trademarks. In addition, we assist our clients in all trademark disputes in Germany and abroad, whether defending their own trademarks or defending against an infringement claim by another company. We we can rely on our international network of trademark professional.
EN 
DE