“DACH region” trademark application for trademark protection in German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland)?

From time to time founders, startups as well as established companies contact our Patent and Trademark Law Firm with Patent Lawyer (European Patent, Trademark and Design Attorney as well as German Certified Intellectual Property Lawyer) and would like to file a “DACH trademark application” to obtain trademark protection in the DACH region, being the German-speaking countries Germany (DE), Austria (AT) and Switzerland (CH).

However, there is no common DACH trademark application that covers these three countries and by which a common trademark protection in Germany, Austria and Switzerland is possible.

If you need a trademark protection in these three countries, the following options are available:

Separate national trademark applications in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

being a German trademark application, an Austrian trademark application as well as a Swiss trademark application.

Application of a European Union trademark (``EU trademark``)

If successful, a registered EU trademark will give trademark protection in all member states of the European Union, as well as filing an additional trademark application in Switzerland. This option of an EU trademark application and a trademark protection in Switzerland, which can sometimes even be cheaper than a combination of a trademark protection in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, also protects various other countries such as Italy, France, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, etc. in addition to the “DACH region”, which can make this option attractive.

Our Patent Lawyer’s Office and Intellectual Property Law Firm with Patent Lawyer (European Patent, Trademark and Design Attorney) as well as German Attorney e.g. for trademark law (Certified IP Lawyer) has been assisting clients from various industries and of different sizes for years in the areas of trademark law, design law / design patent law, patent law, utility model law, competition law, etc. and will also be happy to help you!