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Securing your trademark in Spain protects your brand, prevents unauthorised use, and gives you exclusive rights across the country. Our team at Brealant guides you through every step of a seamless registration with OEPM, and advises on EU-wide protection through EUIPO where that suits your plans.
Legal Definition of a Trademark in Spain
A trademark registration in Spain is a sign, capable of graphic or other clear representation, that a business uses to distinguish its goods or services from those of others in the market.
Purpose and Function of Trademarks in Spain
Under Ley de Marcas 17/2001 (the Spanish Trademark Law), registering a mark with OEPM gives you exclusive rights to use it nationally, license it, or take action against infringers, strengthening recognition and trust in your brand.
Protecting Your Trademark — Spain or the Whole EU
A registered Spanish trademark covers words, logos, colours, sounds, and other distinctive signs, but only within Spain. If your ambitions reach beyond Spain's borders, Brealant can also file an EU Trade Mark through EUIPO, covering all EU member states under a single registration.
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Contact
Reach out to Brealant, your trusted trademark agent in Spain, to discuss your trademark needs.
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Search
Request a FREE trademark search in Spain to ensure your brand's uniqueness.
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Quote
Receive a service quote tailored to your filing requirements.
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Pay
Proceed with secure payment for the selected services.
File
Brealant submits your trademark application to OEPM.
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Wait
Await OEPM's response; response times vary. Check our country page for time estimates, or contact us for case-specific guidance.
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Response
Receive OEPM's decision, which may include your official registration certificate.
In Spain, a trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing a company's goods or services from those of competitors, and it is registered with OEPM under Ley de Marcas 17/2001. A registered trademark grants you exclusive rights across Spain to prevent others from using confusingly similar identifiers.
Trademark registration in Spain provides significant advantages in securing your brand identity. Once registered, you have exclusive rights concerning specific goods or services throughout the country. This legal protection prevents competitors from using or imitating the trademark, helping build consumer trust and recognition.
Certain elements cannot be trademarked under Spanish law, including
Generic Terms
Common words or phrases that describe the product (e.g., 'pan' for a bakery).
Descriptive Words
Words that simply describe the characteristics, quality, or geographic origin of goods (e.g., 'fresco' or 'español').
Offensive or Contrary to Public Order
Marks that contain offensive content or content contrary to law or accepted principles of morality.
Misleading Terms
Words that could mislead consumers about the nature, quality, or origin of the goods or services.
Shapes Dictated by Function
Shapes or other characteristics resulting from the nature of the goods themselves or necessary to obtain a technical result.
OEPM evaluates applications on these absolute grounds to ensure that non-registrable elements are not part of the proposed trademark.
A registered trademark in Spain protects various elements that identify and differentiate a brand. The protection extends to
Words
Unique brand names, slogans, and taglines.
Logos
Distinctive graphical elements representing the brand.
Colours
Unique colour combinations closely associated with the brand.
Non-Traditional Marks
Sounds and other distinctive signs capable of clear representation, uniquely related to the brand.
By partnering with IP experts in Spain, you can ensure your brand is safeguarded from infringement and prevent customer confusion or loss of trust due to imitation.
The registration process for a trademark in Spain typically involves
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Formal & Absolute-Grounds Examination
OEPM reviews the application for formal compliance and absolute grounds for refusal, generally within one to two months of filing.
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Publication
If no objection is raised, the application is published in the Boletín Oficial de la Propiedad Industrial (BOPI), opening a two-month opposition period for earlier rights holders.
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Opposition Period
Third parties with earlier rights may oppose within two months of publication; if an opposition is filed, the timeline extends further.
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Registration
If no opposition is filed, or any opposition is resolved in the applicant's favour, OEPM registers the trademark and issues the certificate.
On average, an uncontested application can register in around 5 to 7 months from filing, while an opposed application typically takes considerably longer.
The cost of trademark registration in Spain varies depending on the number of classes (categories of goods or services) the trademark covers
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OEPM's official fee is typically in the region of €150 to €200 for one class when filed electronically, with an additional fee for each extra class — we confirm the current schedule before you file.
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When using the services of a trademark agent in Spain, there may be additional fees for their assistance with the search, application, and examination stages.
These costs represent a valuable investment in securing a brand's exclusive rights and protecting it against infringement.
Once registered, a trademark can be actively monitored and enforced to ensure others are not using similar marks that may confuse customers. Businesses often partner with IP professionals to monitor potential infringements, manage renewal timelines, and handle licensing agreements, strengthening their market position in Spain.
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In Spain, a trademark is a sign capable of graphic or other clear representation that distinguishes a company's goods or services from those of others, registered with OEPM under Ley de Marcas 17/2001.
Copyright (derechos de autor) protects original creative works like art and music, while a trademark protects brand identifiers like logos and names that distinguish products or services in the market.
A registered trademark in Spain is valid for 10 years from the filing date, with the option to renew indefinitely in further 10-year terms.
It depends on your plans — a Spanish national mark through OEPM protects you within Spain only, while an EU Trade Mark through EUIPO covers all EU member states under one registration; Brealant can advise on the route, or combination, that best fits your business.
Spanish trademark law dictates that generic, purely descriptive, offensive, or misleading terms, and shapes dictated by function, cannot be trademarked.
Any individual or legal entity, Spanish or foreign, can apply; applicants domiciled outside the EU/EEA generally need to appoint a Spanish trademark agent or representative to act before OEPM.
Yes, a single Spanish application can cover multiple classes in one filing, with the official OEPM fee increasing for each class beyond the first.
You'll receive a provisional refusal (suspenso) with a deadline to respond; Brealant's office action service prepares the arguments needed to keep your application moving toward registration.
Yes, Spanish law expects genuine use within five years of registration, or the mark becomes vulnerable to a non-use cancellation action brought by a third party.
No, the goods/services list is fixed at filing; covering new categories requires a fresh application rather than an amendment to the existing registration.
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
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