2026: monthly review
Newly prepared on 13 November 2026. The dates below identify the event or thematic month.
2026-01-05 · Comparable UK marks in 2026: keep territorial use evidence
Comparable UK rights created from EU trade marks are independent rights. Use must be assessed against the relevant period. The official transitional rules recognise EU use before 1 January 2021; later use outside the UK does not replace use in the UK.
2026-02-02 · SME Fund 2026: check funding before filing
The 2026 SME Fund supports eligible businesses with selected IP costs. The programme began on 2 February 2026. Voucher conditions, the sequence of funding and IP applications, and available funds matter. At the review on 13 November 2026, the EUIPO page reports vouchers 1 and 2 unavailable because their funds are exhausted.
2026-03-10 · DPMA statistics in 2026: filing growth and clearance planning
On 10 March 2026, the DPMA published its annual statistics for 2025. Trade mark applications including international requests for protection in Germany reached 96,328, an increase of 19.8%. These figures measure demand for protection, not the prospects of a particular filing.
2026-04-20 · Brazil: Madrid e-Filing and the office of origin
On 20 April 2026, WIPO announced Madrid e-Filing through Brazil’s INPI. This concerns international applications using Brazil as the office of origin. It is distinct from filing through Germany and designating Brazil.
2026-05-13 · Madrid Yearly Review 2026: planning subsequent designations
WIPO’s Madrid Yearly Review 2026 examines use of the system in 2025 and reports more than 68,000 requests for subsequent designation. It provides a useful prompt to compare existing international registrations with commercial expansion plans.
2026-06-16 · eMadrid 2026: organising representative changes
On 16 June 2026, WIPO described a simplified digital request to appoint or replace a representative. Authorisation is sent to the holder’s recorded email address. Under the published procedure, the holder must authorise the request within 14 days.
2026-07-23 · Saudi Arabia joins Madrid: protection from October 2026
WIPO announced Saudi Arabia’s accession on 23 July 2026. The Madrid Protocol entered into force there on 8 October 2026. Eligible applicants can therefore consider designation through an international registration alongside the national route.
2026-08-01 · Jersey: separate Madrid designation from August 2026
Since 1 August 2026, Jersey is designated separately under the Madrid System. A new UK designation no longer automatically covers Jersey. WIPO describes transitional arrangements for existing registrations that depend, among other things, on their UK protection status.
2026-09-09 · One year of eMadrid: access, portfolios and deadlines
On 9 September 2026, WIPO marked the first year of eMadrid with updates on representative changes, email management and portfolio filters. Businesses should check whether their real allocation of responsibilities is reflected in the digital system.
2026-10-05 · WIPO Wallet: allocating international trade mark payments
On 5 October 2026, WIPO introduced the WIPO Wallet name for its former current account. Existing accounts transferred automatically. The notice reduced the initial deposit to CHF 200 and specified at least four transactions per calendar year.
Our trade mark guides explain practical steps for filing, portfolio management and disputes. The existing case archive contains German-language decisions and commentary; original decisions are identified as such and are not presented as English translations.
Start with a practical question
- Trade mark registration
- National trade mark filings abroad
- EU trade marks
- International registration: Madrid System
- Trade mark protection in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- Trade mark searches before launch
- Word marks, logos and slogans
- Colours, shapes, sounds and other mark types
- Collective and certification marks
- Trade mark classes and specifications
- Examination objections and refusals
- Trade mark oppositions
- Revocation, invalidity and cancellation
- Enforcing trade mark rights
- Responding to a cease-and-desist letter
- Interim injunctions and trade mark litigation
- Online brand protection and domain disputes
- Counterfeits and customs enforcement
- Trade mark watching, use and renewals
- Trade mark licences and transfers
- Portfolio management and IP due diligence
- EU trade mark or international registration?
- Trade mark strategy and advice
- Brand development and launch checklist
German case archive
Browse the existing decisions and commentary in German
Country guide · Trade mark searches · Fees · Contact
Practical legal assessment
Trade mark advice connects the legal issue to a commercial decision. A launch, acquisition and urgent dispute need different information and priorities. Record the objective, timetable, budget and existing rights at the outset.
Distinguish facts from assumptions. Register extracts do not reveal every contractual restriction, and internal lists do not prove actual use. Request missing information specifically rather than inferring comprehensive security from an incomplete file.
The outcome should set out an understandable sequence of actions, including alternatives, remaining uncertainty, cost factors and responsibility for the next step. For international matters, identify questions requiring input from the appropriate local representatives.
Four practical examples
Illustrative scenarios to explain the assessment; these are not reports of client matters.
Product launch
Sales needs a prompt naming decision. Supply candidate names, target markets and fixed dates so clearance and filing can be prioritised.
Urgent dispute
A warning letter arrives. Start with the deadline and complete correspondence rather than only a general business history.
New partner
A prospective licensee requests broad rights. Compare the portfolio, planned use and negotiating objective before making commitments.
Annual review
Review marks, products and countries together to produce a prioritised list of renewals, evidence work, filings and contract corrections.
How does an initial review become an action plan?
Organise information around urgency, decisions and implementation. Secure live deadlines first, then assess alternatives and agree the work. Keep questions requiring local representatives or other disciplines expressly identified.
Preparing the next step
Provide the exact sign, relevant products, target territories and any register numbers. If there is an office notice or dispute, include the complete correspondence and the date of receipt. We identify missing information, agree the scope and clarify fees before taking further steps.
A useful instruction file distinguishes the confirmed facts, missing information and decisions still to be made. Keep dated versions of specifications, sign designs and correspondence so changes can be traced. Agree who approves each step and who monitors the next deadline. Where several companies or advisers are involved, document their respective roles. The resulting plan should connect the legal assessment with the operational changes needed in packaging, contracts, sales channels or register administration.
Discuss your trade mark matter
Tell us about your mark, target markets and any deadline. All fields are optional; please provide an email address or telephone number if you would like a reply. Sending an enquiry does not itself place an order or establish a client relationship.