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What is the difference between an EU trademark and a national trademark?

Senior Trademark Attorney

An EU trademark is filed with the EUIPO and covers all 27 EU member states through a single application and registration. A national trademark is filed with the IP office of a specific member state and covers only that country.

An EU trademark is more expensive than a single national filing, but it covers a much larger territory. If your business is active across multiple EU countries, an EUIPO filing is generally the more cost-efficient option than individual filings on the national level. For businesses operating in only one EU market, a national trademark in that country is cheaper and sufficient.

The two systems coexist: holding a national trademark in one member state does not affect the ability to file an EU trademark, and vice versa.

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