Protecting Intellectual Property
Trademarks and patents enjoy strong protection in Germany. For sales into Germany, this means a two-fold challenge. First, trademarks or other intellectual property used in or on the merchandise must not infringe older rights that have already been established in the German market. Second, any intellectual property related to the merchandise can be legally protected against counterfeiting by means of registration.
For Germany, the German Patent- and Trademark Office (Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt) is in charge of these registrations.
Following the ongoing harmonisation and integration of the Single European Market, a harmonised system of administering patents and trademarks has been established, too. Community Trade Marks and Community Designs are administered by the Office for Harmonisation in the Single European Market.
Community Trade Mark and Community Design grant their proprietor a uniform right which is valid in all member states of the European Union. More information on the protection of intellectual property on the European level is available from the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM).
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