Germany trademark search and DPMA filing
Short answer
A Germany trademark search checks the German register and EU marks valid in Germany before you file at the DPMA. Filing online costs 290 EUR for up to three classes and 100 EUR for each further class as of 2026.
- Office
- German Patent and Trade Mark Office
- Opposition window
- 3 months
- Typical time to registration
- about 6 months
- Protection
- 10 years, renewable
DPMA official fees as of 2026
Published electronic filing fees in EUR, rounded to whole units. You pay them to DPMA directly; they are not part of a Trademarking plan. Offices revise fees, so check the source before you pay.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Online application, up to three classesIncludes up to three classes. | 290 EUR |
| Each class from the fourth | 100 EUR per class |
| Renewal, up to three classesEvery 10 years. | 750 EUR |
| Opposition | 250 EUR |
Source www.dpma.de
Compare every office in the trademark registration cost guide.
From filing to registration at DPMA
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1
Filing
Online application to the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA).
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2
Examination
The DPMA checks absolute grounds; accelerated examination is available for a fee.
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3
Registration
The mark is registered and then published, often within about 6 months.
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4
Opposition
Owners of earlier rights have 3 months from publication of the registration to oppose.
Rules worth knowing before you file
- Germany uses post-registration opposition: your mark is registered first and can still be challenged for 3 months.
- EU trademarks are valid in Germany too, so a German clearance must also cover EU marks.
- Applicants without a residence or establishment in Germany must appoint a representative admitted in Germany, the EU or the EEA.
How Trademarking handles a DPMA filing
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Step 1
We search DPMA records and the other offices you choose for identical and similar marks, and show a registration likelihood with the closest conflicts and their source.
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Step 2
We map what you sell to Nice classes and suggest wording from the office lists, which keeps you clear of surcharges and objections. See the class guide.
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Step 3
We prepare the DPMA application: applicant details, mark type, classes and the goods and services text.
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Step 4
Applicants without a residence or establishment in Germany must appoint a representative (a lawyer or patent attorney admitted in Germany, the EU or the EEA). In that case the filing goes through a partner attorney admitted before DPMA, and you still own the application.
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Step 5
After filing, deadlines, office actions, publication and the opposition window appear in your portfolio, and trademark monitoring alerts you to similar new filings.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is the German fee for three classes?
- The DPMA filing fee includes up to three classes; each further class costs 100 EUR.
- German mark or EU mark?
- A German mark is cheaper if Germany is your only market. An EU mark covers Germany and the other member states with one filing.
- Can my German mark be opposed after registration?
- Yes, within 3 months of publication of the registration.
Other offices
General information as of 2026 based on what DPMA publishes, not legal advice. Trademarking is not a law firm.