Trademarks in EU Countries: A Comprehensive Guide
Your trademark is the way your customers identify you. It differentiates your products or services from other brands and encapsulates your values. It may even become your most valuable asset. Your trademark is part of your intellectual property and is crucial to your success as a business.
What is a European Union Trademark (EUTM)?
A European Union trademark (EUTM), issued by the EUIPO, is valid in all member states of the EU, which as of 2023 comprises 27 countries. Trademarks may be registered within individual countries, or across the whole of the EU (by means of a European Union trademark). In the case of a European Union trademark, it is granted a unitary character that applies protection for that mark across the whole of the EU with certain exceptions.
What Countries Does an EU Trademark Cover?
An EU trademark application provides protection in all 27 member states of the European Union. Protection automatically extends to any new EU member states. However, the coverage does not extend to countries like Switzerland, Norway, or the UK.
Registering a Trademark in the European Union (EUTM): What International Businesses Need to Know
If you plan to sell products or services in Europe, protecting your brand is essential. Each of the 27 EU member states has its own trademark system, but the European Union Trade Mark (EUTM) offers a single, streamlined route to secure your trademark and provide protection across all 27 countries.
