Trademark Registration Europe - A Guide to the EU Trade Mark System
For an Indian company preparing to sell into Europe, trademark registration in Europe is often the first legal step that deserves attention, well before the first shipment or the launch of a localised website. The European Union offers a single, unitary right known as the European Union trade mark (EUTM), administered by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain. One application, one examination and one registration can protect a brand across all 27 EU member states. This guide explains how the EUTM system works, what an Indian applicant should prepare, and where the common pitfalls lie. It is written for founders, in-house counsel and brand managers who want a clear overview before speaking with a professional adviser. Why a Unitary EU Trade Mark Matters for Indian Exporters Before the EUTM system existed, a business had to file separate national applications in each European country it wished to cover. That approach is still available, but for mos...