Maintaining your trademark in Germany is essential for protecting your brand assets and avoiding legal and financial risks. This guide covers key aspects of German trademark renewal: validity periods, application windows, remedies for missed deadlines, fee structures, renewal during transfers or changes of ownership, and portfolio management strategies.

1. Validity Period: Start and End

•      Term: 10 years from the registration date.

•      Renewals: Unlimited; each renewal adds another 10-year term.

2. Renewal Application Window

•      Normal Window: The final 6 months of the current term.

o     For a term ending March 31, 2030, you may renew from October 1, 2029 onward.

•      Grace Period: Up to 6 months after expiry, subject to an extra late-filing fee.

Tip: File as early as possible within the normal window to avoid late fees or risk of lapse. Don’t rely solely on official reminders—set your own alerts well before deadlines.

3. Remedies for Missed Deadlines

•      After grace period expires: The mark lapses and is vulnerable to third-party registration.

•      Restoration (“Reinstatement”) Procedure:

o     Must file within 2 months after discovering the lapse.

o     Demonstrate that the deadline was missed for reasons beyond control (e.g., serious illness, natural disaster).

o     Provide supporting evidence.

•      Risks & Considerations:

o     Process is complex and success is not guaranteed.

o     If reinstatement fails, you must file anew and face full examination.

4. Renewal Fees (as of 2025)

•      Standard Renewal Fee: €750 per trademark (covers up to 3 classes).

•      Additional Classes: €260 for each class beyond the first three.

•      Late-Filing Surcharge: €50 if filed during the 6-month grace period.

•      Electronic Discount: Reduced fees apply when using the DPMA online portal.

Budgeting:

•      Tally the number of marks and classes to forecast total costs.

•      Monitor DPMA fee updates to keep your budget accurate.

5. Renewal during Transfer or Change of Ownership

•      No Need to Wait: You may renew while a transfer or change is pending.

•      Who Files:

o     If the transfer is not yet recorded, renew in the name of the current registered owner.

o     If already recorded, the new owner should file.

•      Best Practice:

o     Submit the renewal under the current owner before the deadline.

o     Include a copy of the assignment agreement or proof of change of ownership.

o     Stay in close contact with DPMA to track both processes.

6. Multi-Mark Portfolio Management Strategies

Managing many trademarks manually is error-prone. Missing renewal deadlines can disrupt your brand strategy and allow rivals to register your marks.

Recommended Solution: Kangxin IP Platform – Brand Management Module

•      Automated Tracking: Monitor deadlines and dispatch email, SMS, or in-platform alerts.

•      Bulk Processing: Renew, transfer, or update multiple marks at once.

•      Dashboard & Analytics: Visualize mark status, upcoming expiries, and renewal progress.

•      Compliance Updates: Ensure alignment with DPMA rules and fee changes.

Get Started: Visit https://eservice.kangxin.com/ to learn more or request a trial of the Brand Management Module.

Conclusion

Timely and accurate renewal of German trademarks is critical to sustaining your brand’s legal protection. Plan ahead to file within the final six-month window, understand the limited remedies for missed deadlines, and budget for all applicable fees. For large portfolios, leverage intelligent tools like the Kangxin IP Platform to automate tracking, minimize risk, and focus your resources on growing your brand.