French, EU or international trademark: which should you choose?

The three routes at a glance

	French trademark	European Union trademark	International trademark (Madrid)
Office	INPI	EUIPO	WIPO, then each designated office
Territory	France	The entire European Union, in a single right	The designated countries among the system's members
Initial cost	€190 (1 class), €40 per additional class	€850 (1 class), €50 (2nd), €150 per class from the 3rd onwards	CHF 653 basic fee (CHF 903 in colour), plus fees per country and per class
Third-party opposition	2 months after publication	3 months after publication	Depending on the law of each designated country
Duration	10 years, renewable	10 years, renewable	10 years, renewable

The French trademark (INPI)

This is the simplest and cheapest route for a business focused on France. Filing is done online. See our guide Filing a trademark with the INPI.

The European Union trademark (EUIPO)

A single application, filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office, gives a single right valid throughout the Union. The application is translated and published in all the official EU languages; third parties have 3 months to oppose it. According to the EUIPO, one application in five is opposed.

The downside of the single right: an opposition based on an earlier right in just one EU country can block registration for the whole Union. Checking Trademarks already registered in the EU is therefore particularly important.

The international trademark (Madrid System)

Managed by WIPO, the Madrid System lets you, starting from a basic Trademark (a French or European Union one, for example), request protection in other member countries with a single application and a single set of fees. The system covers 133 countries through 117 members. Each designated office then decides, under its own law, whether to grant protection in its territory.

The total cost depends on the designated countries and the number of classes; WIPO provides a fee calculator. On the INPI side, forwarding the international application costs €62.

How to choose

• Business in France only, at least to begin with: a French Trademark. The Paris Convention then gives you 6 months of priority to extend protection abroad while keeping the date of your first filing.
• Online sales or a presence in several EU countries: a European Union Trademark, often cheaper than several national filings.
• Countries outside the European Union (United Kingdom, Switzerland, United States…): the Madrid System or national filings.