Trademark registration in France.

In order to have legislative protection for your brand name, you must go through the procedure for registering a trademark. How to register your brand (trademark) in France? There are several options for registering a trademark in France. This country is a member of the European Union. By applying for the registration of a trademark in the EU, you can claim protection of the trademark in France. This state is also a signatory to the Madrid Protocol, which provides for the international registration of the trademark. Besides, of course, there is a national trademark registration procedure in France. It provides for filing an application with the patent office of a certain country. Having received such registration, protection of the trademark will apply exclusively to a certain country.

Registration of a trademark is available for citizens of the country or non-residents who have an official representative office in France. Besides, citizens of WTO member countries or individuals who reside in France can undergo the procedure.

Trademark Application in France

Local applications are filed through the Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI). Your trademark automatically receives protection in Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Barthélemy, French Saint-Martin, Reunion Island, French Guiana, New Caledonia, Mayotte, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. It also may be extended to the French Polynesia.

How can you register a trademark in France?

You can apply for trademark registration in France in real time on our website. You just have to fill out the application above and indicate the following:

1. Type of trademark.
2. The status of the applicant.
3. Select classes for registration.
4. Fill in the data about the future owner of the trademark.

Each trademark is registered for a specific list of goods or services for which it will be used in the future. To determine the list, an international classifier of goods and services is used, which includes 45 classes. Our smart search system will help you to choose the class that suits you. Just enter the name of the product or service in the box and the system will offer a class. If you could not choose a class yourself, you can contact our consultants for help online.

What can you register as a trademark in France?

You can register various brand names as a trademark. Depending on the type, you can apply for such a trademark:

• Word trademark.
• Design trademark.
• Combined trademark.

This is a list of the most common types of trademarks. As is clear from their names, they provide for the protection of certain types of trademarks. Thus, a word trademark will help to protect the trademark that consists of letters or numbers. A design trademark implies the registration of a graphic element, a logo, e.g. The combined trademark is the most extensive, it provides protection for a combination of verbal and graphic parts.

Since 11 December 2019 the requirement for graphical representation of the sign has been abolished. Non-traditional signs such as sound marks, motion marks, multimedia marks or holograms, which can be represented by new technical means (audio, video files, etc.), can be applied for.

Trademark Search in France

You should check if someone else has already registered or applied to register a similar trademark for similar goods or services, or if someone else is using a similar trademark for similar goods or services.

Examination of the trademark application in France

In this phase, the INPI will examine if the applicant complied with all of the requirements. will They will check compliance with regards to formality, descriptiveness, distinctiveness, classification and deceptiveness.

Trademark registration process in France

The registration process takes an average of 4-6 months. If you haven`t used your trademark for a period of five years from the registration date, it can be cancelled on a third party request filed with the French IP Institute.

Cost of trademark registration in France

€190 for one class, €40 per extra class and €60 to cover French Polynesia.

The registered trademark is valid in France for 10 years. The applicant also has the opportunity to extend the validity period of the trademark for the same period.

Renewal of trademarks in France: it can be renewed within one year before its expiry date (ten years from the filing date).

The INPI fees for renewal in one class is €290 and €40 per additional class.