The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) marks an important achievement: five million EU Trade Marks (EUTMs) and EU Designs (EUDs) applications received since its foundation in 1994.
These applications protect companies, entrepreneurs, and innovations shaping our future, and this milestone reflects the vibrancy and creative capacity of businesses throughout Europe and beyond.
To meet the growing demand in applications, the EUIPO is modernising its application process, making it faster and more user-friendly, and integrating AI tools that assist both applicants and examiners. The sustained demand underlines the trust that businesses of all sizes place in the EUIPO’s efficient, transparent, and harmonised system.
Practical advantages of registering EUTMs and EUDs:
- Both are IP rights governed by a single legal system, providing strong and uniform protection throughout the EU.
- Applicants receive protection across all 27 EU Member States through a single, cost-effective application.
Beyond offering protection, EUTMs and EUDs become a business asset, giving firms an exclusive right in all EU countries at a reasonable cost, securing brand reputation and opening new income streams from licensing, partnerships, and internationalisation.
Firms with registered IP rights see a 23.8% higher revenue per employee and pay wages that are 22.1% higher on average, according to a 2025 study from the EUIPO and the European Patent Office. The benefits are particularly striking for SMEs, which achieve a 44% increase in revenue per employee compared to similar firms with no registered IP. Meanwhile, large firms enjoy a 16% increase.
Looking ahead, the Office will begin to register a new IP right, Craft and Industrial Geographical Indications, in December 2025.
More information about the EUIPO application and registration numbers is available in the statistics section.
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