Trademark renewal fees in Germany: costs, due dates and grace period
You renew a German trademark with the DPMA, in EUR, every 10 years from the filing date. The renewal fee falls due six months before expiry and can be paid without a surcharge inside that window. Miss it and a six-month grace period runs with a EUR 50 surcharge.
What are the trademark renewal due dates in Germany?
Germany counts the 10-year term from the filing date. The renewal window opens six months before the expiry date and closes on it.
The first renewal falls due 10 years from the filing date, payable to DPMA. Renewal can be requested from six months before the expiry date, and not earlier.
For example, if the filing date is 2015-03-15, the renewal window opens on 2024-09-15 and the deadline is 2025-03-15.
Each renewal extends protection for a further 10 years, on the same window. Protection is renewable indefinitely, with no limit on the number of renewals.
For example, once renewed in 2025, the next renewal will be due by 2035-03-15.
In Germany, trademarks are renewed through the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). Renewal is required to keep a registration in force.
Germany is also a member of the Madrid System. If your trademark is an International Registration designating Germany, the renewal of that international registration is handled through WIPO Madrid System procedures rather than directly through DPMA.
Your renewal window opens six months before expiry, here 15 Sep 2024, and the deadline is 15 Mar 2025. Miss it and the mark can still be renewed until 15 Sep 2025 with a EUR 50 surcharge. Each renewal adds another 10 years, with no limit on how many times.
Official trademark renewal fees by year in Germany
Official fees payable to the DPMA, in EUR. One fee covers a set number of classes; classes beyond that band are charged separately.
| Fee type | Official fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Renewal, including up to three classes | 750 |
| Each additional class, from the fourth | +260 |
| Late payment, in the grace period | +50 |
| Typical 3-class renewal | 750 |
One renewal fee covers up to three classes, with a supplement for the fourth class and each one after. German protection starts on the day following the filing date, so the term ends on the day that corresponds to the filing day ten years later.
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Missed a trademark renewal deadline in Germany?
A six-month grace period runs from the expiry of the protection period. The renewal fee can still be paid inside it, with a EUR 50 surcharge on top. Note that German protection starts on the day following the filing date, so the term ends on the day that corresponds to the filing day ten years later.
If the renewal deadline of 15 Mar 2025 is missed, the mark stays renewable until 15 Sep 2025. Settle the renewal fee and the late fee inside that window to keep it in force.
Trademark renewal fees in other jurisdictions
The same schedule, deadlines and grace rules, in the jurisdictions we are asked about most.
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Looking for a different jurisdiction?
Trademark renewal fees and deadlines in every jurisdiction we cover.
Other IP renewals in Germany
Trademarks aren't the only rights that lapse without renewal. Germany also protects patents and designs. Each on its own schedule and fee scale.
Patents
Renewal deadlines, grace periods and official fees for patents in Germany.
Designs
Renewal terms and official fees for registered industrial designs in Germany.
1. When is the first trademark renewal due in Germany?
The first renewal fee is due 6 months before the end of the initial 10-year protection period (counted from the filing date). Payment without surcharge is accepted up to the expiry date itself.
2. Can I renew my trademark after missing the deadline?
Yes. Germany provides a 6-month grace period after the expiry date. During this window you can still renew by paying the standard renewal fee plus a €50 late surcharge. If you miss this grace period too, the trademark is cancelled and cannot be reinstated, a new application would be required.
3. How long does a German trademark last?
A registered German trademark is valid for 10 years from the filing date. Each renewal extends protection by a further 10 years. There is no limit on how many times a trademark can be renewed.
4. Does Germany require proof of use for renewal?
No. Germany does not require proof of use as part of the renewal application. However, a trademark that has not been genuinely used for 5 consecutive years from the end of the opposition period can be cancelled by a third party through non-use cancellation proceedings.
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