HOW AND WHERE CAN A CTM APPLICATION BE FILLED?
File on-line directly at the OHIM or file your application at any of the national patent and trade mark offices of the 27 Member States of the Community (or the Benelux Trade Mark Office).
An application filed at a national office or the Benelux Trade Mark Office and forwarded to the OHIM within one month will receive a filing date as though it had been filed directly in Alicante.
DIRECT FILING AT THE OHIM IS POSSIBLE THROUGH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING MEANS:
- e-filing:on-line application
- sending by regular mail,
- sending via private delivery services,
- handing in the application personally at the reception of the Office, during the opening hours (8.30 – 13.30; 15.00 – 17.00)
- transmission by telefax, (+34 965 131 344).
In case of a filing by fax, it is not necessary to send a confirmation copy. It is in fact strongly recommended not to send such confirmation copies. The facsimile signature appearing on the telecopy is equivalent to an original signature.”
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF E-FILING?
If you file your CTM application online, you will:
- benefit from a EUR 150 reduction on the basic fee for an individual mark (paper filing is EUR 1050).
- be able to pay by credit card
- receive confirmation of your CTM number immediately
- be able to generate and print the official receipt (Note OHIM does not issue copies).
- benefit from online verification to ensure error-free filing and secure your filing date
- be able to store and automatically recall your contact details for subsequent applications.
WHERE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CTM?
You will find all the basic information about the CTM system presented in a simple way in the OHIMs Basic Quick Guide to Trade Marks.
If you want more detailled legal information, such as legal texts and case law you can find that and much more on the OHIMs official website: www.oami.europa.eu
FILE ONLINE DIRECTLY AT: www.oami.europa.eu
COST
For the registration of a Community trade mark, there is a single fee to be paid calculated according to the filing method chosen and the number of classes of goods and services.
BASIC FEE:
€900 to file online (e-filing) or €1050 if you use the paper form.
In either case, if your application covers more than three classes of goods and services there is a fee of €150 for each additional class.
The basic fee is due within one month from the date the application is received at OHIM (or at the national office).
OHIM’s website includes a wide range of explanations and demonstrations which can help guide users through the process of getting a Community trade mark (CTM). You may find the links below particularly useful.
RENEWALS
A Community trade mark is valid for ten years from the date of filing and can be renewed indefinitely for further periods of ten years.
You can either renew a CTM yourself or ask your representative to do it for you. The request can either be submitted online or by filing the paper form. The renewal tool will guide you through all steps and automatically calculate the required fee.
COSTS
The costs of renewals are:
- €1350 to file online (e-renewal fee)
- or €1500 using the paper form.
In either case, if your application covers more than three classes of goods and services there is a fee of €450 for each additional class.