Language
Before you commit to a trademark application in Germany, a clearance search tells you whether your brand name, logo, or slogan is genuinely free to register — and free to use, since the DPMA won't check that for you. Our team at Brealant guides you through a thorough search process so you can move forward with confidence.
What a Trademark Search Involves
A trademark search checks the DPMAregister, EU trademarks registered with EUIPO (which also block use and registration in Germany), Madrid Protocol designations, and German trade name registers for marks identical or confusingly similar to yours.
Purpose and Function of a Trademark Search
Under the Markengesetz, the DPMA examines new applications only on absolute grounds such as distinctiveness — it does not check for conflicts with earlier marks. That makes a private clearance search the only real safeguard against a later opposition or infringement claim.
Protecting Your Filing Strategy
A thorough search helps Brealant recommend the strongest way to file — including classes, elements, and wording — giving your mark the best chance of registering and staying unchallenged.
.svg)
Contact
Reach out to Brealant, your trusted trademark agent in Germany, to discuss the mark you want to search.
.svg)
Search
Our team runs a comprehensive search of the DPMAregister, EUIPO's register, Madrid Protocol designations, and German trade name registers.
.svg)
Quote
Receive a service quote tailored to the scope of the search you need.
.svg)
Pay
Proceed with secure payment for the selected search service.
File
Brealant compiles the findings into a clear, written clearance report.
.svg)
Wait
Our team finalises its analysis of similarity, class overlap, and distinctiveness risk.
.svg)
Response
You receive your clearance report with a plain-English filing recommendation.
In Germany, a trademark search reviews the DPMAregister, the EUIPO register, and related sources to identify conflicting marks before you file. Because the DPMA does not examine new applications against earlier marks — it checks only absolute grounds such as distinctiveness — understanding what's already registered is the only reliable way to gauge your risk of opposition or infringement down the line.
A trademark search protects more than your application fee — it protects the time, marketing spend, and brand equity you're about to invest in a name. Because Germany registers marks before checking for conflicts with earlier rights, a search is your best evidence that the three-month opposition window following registration is unlikely to bring an unwelcome surprise.
A search significantly reduces risk, but it has real limits worth understanding before you file
No Absolute Guarantee
No search, however thorough, can guarantee the DPMA won't raise an absolute-grounds objection during examination.
Unregistered Rights
Rights built through genuine use but never registered can be harder to identify with certainty.
Pending Applications
Very recently filed applications, including Madrid Protocol designations, may not yet be visible on the public register at the time of search.
Descriptiveness & Distinctiveness
A search checks for conflicting marks, not whether the DPMA will consider your mark descriptive or non-distinctive.
Foreign Rights Beyond the EU
A German and EU search does not clear your mark for use or registration outside those jurisdictions.
Brealant explains these limits clearly in every search report, so you know exactly what comfort the search gives you.
A thorough German trademark search reviews multiple layers of the register to protect your filing decision. Our search covers
Word Marks
Identical and phonetically or visually similar brand names and taglines on the DPMAregister and EUIPO register.
Logos & Devices
Graphical and combined marks that could be considered confusingly similar in overall impression.
Class Overlap
Marks registered in the same or related Nice classification classes as your goods or services.
Trade Names & Company Names
Registered German trade names (Handelsregister entries) that could indicate a conflicting common-law user.
Partnering with Brealant means every layer of risk is checked before you commit to filing — since the DPMA won't check it for you.
A search moves considerably faster than a full application. It typically involves
.svg)
Briefing
You provide the mark and the goods/services it will cover, generally within a day of first contact.
.svg)
Searching
Brealant runs the DPMAregister, EUIPO register, and trade name checks, usually completed within 1 to 3 business days.
.svg)
Analysis
Our team reviews similarity, class overlap, and distinctiveness risk against everything found.
.svg)
Reporting
You receive the finished clearance report and filing recommendation.
Most German trademark searches are completed within 2 to 5 business days of instruction, depending on complexity.
Search costs are modest compared to the cost of a rejected application or a dispute during the opposition window
.svg)
Brealant offers a free preliminary check of the DPMAregister to flag obvious conflicts.
A detailed written clearance report, covering EUIPO and trade name checks, is offered as a fixed professional fee.
These costs are a small, worthwhile investment set against the far higher cost of a later opposition or infringement dispute.
Once your search is complete, Brealant can move straight into preparing and filing your application, so the momentum from a clear result isn't lost. If your search reveals risk, our team will also advise on alternative branding or filing strategies to keep your project moving.
.png)
.png)
.svg)
.svg)
No, the DPMA does not require a search before filing, and it does not run one itself either — the office checks only absolute grounds, so skipping a private search significantly increases your risk of a later opposition or dispute.
No search can guarantee registration, since the DPMA may still raise an absolute-grounds objection such as descriptiveness, but a clearance search removes the risk the DPMA itself won't check: conflicting earlier marks.
Yes. Brealant searches word marks, logos, and combined marks, and advises on the best filing strategy for each element of your brand.
Yes. Because registered EU trademarks are also enforceable in Germany, our searches include the EUIPO register alongside the DPMAregister for a complete picture.
Brealant offers a free preliminary register check, with a fixed fee for the full clearance report — we quote this before you commit.
A preliminary register check can often be turned around within a day or two, while a full clearance report covering similar marks usually takes around 3-5 business days.
Yes, our searches assess phonetic, visual, and conceptual similarity to earlier marks, not just exact matches, since the DPMA and opposing rights holders both look beyond identical wording when assessing conflict risk.
A full report lists identical and similar earlier marks in the relevant classes, assesses the level of conflict risk for each, and gives a practical recommendation on whether to proceed, amend, or reconsider the application.
Yes, alongside the DPMAregister and EUIPO register we can extend the search into other jurisdictions where you plan to trade, including through the WIPO Global Brand Database for Madrid System members.
Yes, a fresh search is worthwhile whenever you add classes or goods/services, since new conflicts can arise from marks registered after your original filing.
Discover more insights and stay informed about the latest in intellectual property with Brealant's blog. From expert advice on trademark registration and patent protection to strategies for safeguarding your brand in a competitive market, our resources are here to empower your business. .
Explore our blog to learn how effective IP management can strengthen your brand's position and protect your innovations
.svg)
.svg){kind=icon}
Get expert guidance on your trademark, patent, copyright or design filing. Book a free 15-minute call with an IP specialist — no obligation.
Book My Free Call.avif)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
%20(1).jpg)
