We Offer Strategic Legal Services
Secure Your Brand in France and the European Union
Protect your brand identity with our team of French and EU intellectual property lawyers.
We handle every step of your trademark registration process—searching existing marks, drafting your application, filing with the INPI (France) or EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office), and managing official responses until registration is granted.
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What is Trademark and Why Should You Register It?
A trademark is the legal protection for your business’s distinctive elements—such as its name, logo, slogan, or product packaging—that set it apart from competitors.
In France and across the EU, trademark registration grants the exclusive right to use your brand in connection with specific goods or services, and to prevent others from using identical or confusingly similar signs.
This is essential for entrepreneurs, SMEs, and corporations who wish to:
- Build trust and recognition among consumers,
- Defend their identity in competitive markets, and
- Secure long-term value for their intellectual assets.
Your trademark becomes a strategic business tool—legally enforceable, commercially valuable, and internationally recognizable.
Main Advantages :
Exclusive rights: Protects your brand name and logo throughout France or the EU.
Legal certainty: Prevents competitors from using similar marks that may confuse customers.
Brand value: Strengthens your company’s image and enhances market credibility.
Transferable asset: Your trademark can be licensed, franchised, or sold as an intangible property.
Unified coverage: With one EU filing, your brand is protected in all 27 Member States.
A registered trademark is not just protection—it’s an investment in your reputation.
How to Secure Your Brand in France and the EU ?
Trademark registration may seem complex, but with FrenchCo.lawyer, the process is clear, structured, and fully managed by legal experts.
Here’s how we guide you from concept to protection:
Preliminary Trademark Search
We conduct a comprehensive search to check the availability of your name, logo, or slogan in France, the EU, and internationally—identifying potential conflicts before filing.
Legal Assessment and Strategy
Our lawyers analyze your results and recommend the most effective protection route: French filing (INPI), EU trademark (EUIPO), or international application (WIPO) depending on your market.
Preparing and Filing the Application
We draft and file the application with all necessary details—mark representation, list of goods/services, and classification—ensuring legal precision and compliance with INPI/EUIPO rules.
Examination and Publication
Once filed, your application is examined and published for potential opposition. We monitor this phase and, if necessary, respond to objections or oppositions from third parties.
Registration and Delivery of Certificate
After successful review, you receive your official registration certificate, confirming exclusive rights to your brand in France or across the EU for ten renewable years.
Why Choose FrenchCo.lawyer?
We combine intellectual property law expertise with practical business insight. Our lawyers are accredited before INPI and EUIPO, ensuring your application meets the strictest legal standards. We offer: Direct lawyer handling—no intermediaries or resellers. Fast and secure electronic filing. Legal monitoring of publication and opposition phases. Transparent pricing and clear communication at each step. Strategic advice on expanding protection to other countries via WIPO. You focus on your brand—we protect it.
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What We Need From You to Register Your Trademark ?
To process your brand protection efficiently, please provide:
Applicant Information
Company name, address, and registration number (Kbis or foreign certificate). Identity of the owner (company or individual).
Brand Details
The name, logo, or slogan you wish to protect (in color or black and white). Indication of the products or services to be covered (Nice classification).
Geographical Scope
Choice between French, EU, or international protection depending on your business reach.
Power of Attorney
A simple signed authorization allowing us to act on your behalf before INPI or EUIPO.
And Then?
Once we receive your documents, our lawyers take over completely: conducting searches, preparing the application, managing the filing, and following up until your registration certificate is officially issued. You’ll receive digital and certified copies—ready to present to partners, investors, and customs authorities.
Trademark Registration– Simple Process, Clear Budget
Flat legal fee starting from €690 excl. taxes* Includes: Trademark search and legal assessment Filing before INPI (France) or EUIPO (European Union) Monitoring and confirmation of registration
Additional official fees: INPI or EUIPO filing charges depending on classes and territories.
No hidden fees. No intermediaries. Just secure, lawyer-led brand protection.
Our commitment:
Transparent advice based on your commercial goals
Direct representation before official IP offices
Long-term protection managed by real professionals
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Why Choose Us?
We Believe in Transparent, Lawyer-Led Brand Protection Across France and the EU
Fast and reliable filing:From trademark searches to EUIPO or INPI submission, we handle your application swiftly and precisely.
Legally compliant protection: Every filing, renewal, and opposition meets French and EU intellectual property regulations.
Strategic legal drafting: We prepare clear, defensible filings to strengthen your brand’s legal standing and prevent disputes.
High professional standards: All filings are managed by licensed French IP lawyers, ensuring accuracy and full accountability.
Let us protect your brand’s identity — so you can focus on expanding your business across France and the EU.
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Understanding the Brand Protection in France and the European Union
Can a foreign company or individual register a trademark in France or the EU?
Yes. Any natural or legal person—French or foreign—can register a trademark either with the INPI (France) or the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office).
There are no nationality or residency restrictions, but the process varies depending on where the applicant is based.
1. Applicants Based Outside the EU
If you are a company or individual established outside the European Union, you must appoint a professional representative—a French lawyer or EUIPO-registered agent—to file and manage your application. This representative ensures procedural compliance, correspondence with the authorities, and defense in case of opposition.
2. EU, EEA, and Swiss Applicants
Applicants from the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland can file directly, without a local representative. However, professional representation remains strongly advised to avoid procedural errors and to maximize protection across jurisdictions.
3. International Companies Protecting Their Brand
Businesses established outside Europe—such as U.S., UK, or Asian firms—can protect their brand via:
- A national filing in France with the INPI, or
A European Union Trademark (EUTM) filing before the EUIPO, which grants coverage in all 27 EU Member States.
Later, they can extend this protection globally through the Madrid System administered by WIPO.
How long does protection last and how is it renewed?
Trademark protection lasts 10 years from the filing date and may be renewed indefinitely for consecutive 10-year periods.
Renewal is straightforward: pay the renewal fee before the deadline, or within a six-month grace period (with surcharge).
Failure to renew automatically ends protection, exposing your brand to imitation or re-registration by others.
What are the key steps in securing a trademark?
1. Preliminary Search
Before filing, a prior rights search must be conducted to verify that the proposed mark is available and not confusingly similar to existing ones. This step is essential to prevent opposition or litigation.
2. Filing the Application
The application must specify:
- The mark (word, logo, etc.),
- The list of goods and services (classified under the Nice system), and
- Applicant information (individual or corporate).
3. Formal Examination
The INPI or EUIPO checks legal compliance, distinctiveness, and admissibility.
4. Publication and Opposition
Once accepted, the mark is published in the Official Bulletin. Third parties have 2 to 3 months to oppose registration if they believe it conflicts with their existing rights.
5. Registration and Certificate
If no opposition succeeds, the office issues a registration certificate—your official proof of exclusive ownership.
What are the costs of trademark registration and maintenance?
Official fees are paid directly to the intellectual property office.Stage
Authority
Approximate Fees (2025)
Filing – France (1 class)
INPI
€190 + €40 per additional class
Filing – EU (1 class)
EUIPO
€850 + €50 per additional class
Renewal – France
INPI
€290
Renewal – EU
EUIPO
€850
Legal representative (FrenchCo.lawyer)
—
From €690 excl. taxes
Our professional fees include prior search, legal opinion, filing, and procedural follow-up.
Can a trademark be sold, licensed, or pledged as security?
Yes. A registered trademark is a transferable asset.
It can be:
- Assigned (sold) to another entity,
- Licensed for royalty income, or
- Used as collateral to secure financing.
All transfers or licenses must be recorded with INPI or EUIPO to be legally effective. Our firm drafts and files these documents to ensure validity and enforceability.
What can be registered as a trademark?
A trademark can include any sign capable of distinguishing your goods or services from those of competitors.
French and EU law recognize the following categories:
- Word marks — brand names, acronyms, or slogans (e.g., Vinci, TotalEnergies).
- Figurative marks — logos, images, or stylized fonts.
- Combined marks — word + logo combinations.
- Shape or 3D marks — the shape of packaging or products.
- Sound or motion marks — jingles, animations, or movement patterns.
- Color marks — a single color or combination uniquely identifying a brand.
To qualify, a sign must be distinctive, lawful, and non-misleading.
Generic or descriptive terms (e.g., “fresh bread” for a bakery) cannot be registered.
What is the difference between a French trademark and a European Union trademark?
Aspect | French Trademark (INPI) | European Union Trademark (EUIPO) |
Coverage | France only | All 27 EU Member States |
Authority | INPI (Paris) | EUIPO (Alicante, Spain) |
Languages | French | Any EU language (English recommended) |
Cost | ~€190 for one class | ~€850 for one class |
Opposition period | 2 months | 3 months |
Strategic use | For national activity | For cross-border or EU-wide business |
In practice, entrepreneurs starting exclusively in France often begin with an INPI filing and later expand protection through EUIPO or international extensions.
What if my trademark faces opposition?
An opposition may be filed by any party holding prior rights, such as an earlier trademark, company name, or domain.
Common grounds include:
- Identity or similarity between marks,
- Risk of consumer confusion,
- Reputation-based objections, or
- Bad faith registration.
Our firm assists with:
- Drafting legal responses,
- Negotiating coexistence or limitation agreements, and
Representing you before INPI or EUIPO to defend your rights.
Can I protect my brand internationally after registering in France or the EU?
Yes. After securing protection at the French or EU level, you may extend it globally using the Madrid System administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
This mechanism allows a single international filing designating over 120 jurisdictions, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, or Canada.
Benefits include:
- Streamlined procedure,
- Unified renewal management,
Cost efficiency compared to individual filings.
What are the consequences of not registering my brand?
Operating without a registered trademark exposes you to serious legal and financial risks:
- Imitation or counterfeiting of your brand,
- Domain name hijacking,
- Loss of exclusivity,
- Inability to license, sell, or franchise your brand, and
- Weakened legal protection in disputes.
Unregistered “common law” rights are rarely sufficient in France or the EU. Registration ensures exclusive ownership and enforceable legal remedies.
Protect Your Brand in France & the EU
Let our French IP lawyers & paralegals handle your trademark registration from start to finish.
More About Brand Protection in France and the European Union
Can I register my trademark both in France and the EU?
Yes. You can file nationally through the INPI or for EU-wide protection via EUIPO. Our team advises the best route based on your business goals and market reach.
What documents will I need?
We’ll need your identity details, logo or mark sample, list of goods/services, and proof of use if applicable. Our lawyers prepare all filings and forms for you.
Do I need a French address to apply?
If you’re based outside the EU, yes — a local representative is required. FrenchCo.lawyer provides this service and ensures compliance with INPI or EUIPO rules.
How long does registration take?
Typically 4 to 6 months for France, and 5 to 7 months for EU trademarks, provided there are no oppositions or objections.
Can I file remotely?
Absolutely. The entire application, monitoring, and response to office actions can be managed fully online by our legal team.
What are the typical costs?
- Trademark registration in France starts from €190 (official fees), and from €850 for EU trademarks. Our transparent flat legal fees cover the full process.
What about oppositions and objections?
We monitor every filing and handle oppositions or examiner objections with legally grounded responses to secure your rights.
Can I expand protection later?
Yes. You can extend an existing French mark to EU or international levels through additional filings — we handle all extensions seamlessly.
