How to file a European trademark for a French company

Europe trademark
Filing a trademark on your brand is one of the most important things to do when creating a business. However, trademarks only operate on a local level. As such, if you file a trademark in France, it does not mean it will also be valid in the UK. As such, how should you proceed if you want to file a trademark in the entire EU?

Filing a European trademark

Filing a trademark on your brand is one of the most important things to do when creating a business. However, trademarks only operate on a local level. As such, if you file a trademark in France, it does not mean it will also be valid in the UK. As such, how should you proceed if you want to file a trademark in the entire EU?

The paperwork to file a trademark in the entire EU

The form you have to fill in is on the website of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Thankfully, all you have to do is follow the instructions given by the website, and the procedure is fairly straightforward.

However, you need to make sure that your name isn’t already taken! The most common reasons for trademark to be refused are lacking any distinctive characteristics or having a name that’s already in use. And keep in mind; you are not reimbursed in these situations!

As for the price; filing a trademark for the EU costs between 850€ or 1500€, depending on the type of trademark. As you can see, it’s definitely worth paying attention so that you don’t waste your money.

What happens once you’ve filed a demand?

Once you’ve filed a demand, there are 3 distinct periods:

  • The examination period: Here, if the EUIPO detects any issues, they will ask you for additional information.
  • The opposition period: After the examination period, the mark is published in each of the European languages. For the next 3 months, it’ll be possible for a third-party to dispute the registration of your trademark
  • The registration: once the 3 months are up, the EUIPO will send you a registration certificate. From then on, your brand is protected!

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