EUIPO: How does a European Union Trademark (EUTM) differ from a local trademark?

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is responsible for supporting innovation by managing trademarks and designs within the European Union. 

The European Union Trademark (EUTM) essentially offers the same benefits as do national trademarks.  EUTMs protect the rights of owners to use their marks in commerce.  EUTMs do offer the added advantage of being lower in cost to obtain and renew with a simpler registration process than national trademark registration, particularly with respect to the process involved in applying for local registration and protection in each respective territory.  As well, EUTMs are valid across the entire European Union without the need for reapplication in the event the EU enlarges.

For enterprises whose transactions are limited to a single area, registering for a national trademark may prove to be more beneficial as it can be more easily managed by a country attorney.  As well, if a mark is only being used locally, obtaining a MUE for exclusivity in all member countries can be opposed by any national mark within the EU.  If Cancellation or Invalidity proceedings are necessary, those conducted before National Courts would be costlier than those conducted before EUIPO for a MUE.

 

Nominus.com

At Nominus.com we provide national and EU applications. The EUTM registration includes protection in: Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

 

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