According to EUIPO statistics, more than 3.2 million trade mark applications have been filed since its launched, reaching 3 221 315 by February 2026.

The growth of the system over time illustrates the increasing role of intellectual property in Europe’s economy. In its first year, 1996, the Office received 43 229 applications. By comparison, annual filings reached 196 956 applications in 2025, demonstrating the continued expansion of demand for EU-wide trade mark protection.

A steadily growing system

Filing volumes increased consistently over the last three decades. The system reached 1 million applications in 2011, 2 million in 2019 and 3 million in 2024. By early 2026, total filings had surpassed 3.2 million.

Annual application volumes also expanded over time. While fewer than 60 000 applications per year were filed in the early 2000s, the system now regularly receives 170 000 - 200 000 applications each year.

A fully digital trade mark system

The evolution of the EUTM system is also reflected in the way applications are filed.

In the early years, applications were submitted mainly by mail or fax. Over time, digital tools transformed the filing process. Today, electronic filing accounts for the vast majority of applications, with more than 2.26 million EUTMs filed online since the system’s creation.

A key milestone in this digital transition was the introduction of Fast Track in 2014, enabling faster processing of applications. In recent years, around half of all applications have been submitted through the Fast Track procedure, demonstrating the increasing use of streamlined digital services by applicants.

Word marks and figurative marks dominate filings

Looking at the types of marks filed, word marks represent the majority of applications, accounting for around 56.8% of all filings, while figurative marks account for approximately 42.6%.

Other types of trade marks (such as sound, motion or multimedia marks) represent still a small fraction of applications.

A global system with strong European participation

The EUTM system serves both European and international applicants seeking protection across the EU’s single market.

Among EU Member States, the highest number of applications historically has come from Germany (490 002), Italy (251 814) and Spain (225 097). Followed by France (189 852) and the Netherlands (108 925).

The system is also widely used by international applicants. Globally, the largest number of filings has come from United States with more than 427 000 applications and China, with over 239 000 applications.

This global demand highlights the role of the EUTM as a gateway for businesses seeking access to the European market.

Looking ahead

Three decades after its creation, the EU trade mark system continues to evolve alongside Europe’s economy.

With millions of applications processed and a steadily growing demand for EU-wide protection, the EUTM remains a central tool for businesses seeking to protect and expand their brands across the European Union.

Background

The European Union trade mark (EUTM) provides protection for a trade mark across all 27 Member States of the European Union through a single registration. Managed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the system allows businesses to obtain EU-wide protection through one application, one procedure and one set of fees.

An EUTM grants its holder exclusive rights to use the mark in connection with the goods and services for which it is registered and enables the owner to prevent unauthorised use across the EU single market.

The system was introduced in 1996 under the name Community Trade Mark (CTM) and renamed the European Union Trade Mark in 2016.

The EU trade mark system is a cornerstone of Europe’s dual trade mark framework, in which EU-wide protection and national trade marks operate side by side and reinforce each other. For Member States and national IP offices, this dual system gives businesses the flexibility to choose the scope that best fits their strategy -national protection for domestic activity, or a single EUTM for the whole EU single market- while ensuring legal certainty and coexistence between rights at different levels.

The EUTM is also a practical enabler of the EU Single Market: by providing one trade mark right valid across all 27 Member States, it reduces fragmentation, lowers administrative and legal costs, and removes barriers that can discourage companies from expanding beyond national borders. The EUTM turns the principle of free movement into something concrete for companies: a single brand strategy backed by a single right across the entire Single Market.

 Numbers to know

EU trade mark system at 30

• 3,221,315 total applications filed since 1996

• 43,229 applications in the first year of operation

• 196,957 applications filed in 2025

• 56.8% of filings are word marks

• 42.6% are figurative marks

• 2.26+ million applications filed electronically

Source: EUIPO statistics on European Union trade marks (1996–2026).