The most common European trademark search mistake: you search your brand name on EUIPO's database, get zero exact matches, and assume you're clear across 27 countries. You're not. A single EU trademark (EUTM) covers every EU member state, which means one conflicting mark in the register can block you from Berlin to Barcelona. And the mark that blocks you probably won't be spelled the same way as yours.
EUIPO has received over 3.2 million trademark applications since 1996. In 2025 alone, 196,886 EUTM applications were filed, a 9.1% increase over 2024 and the highest annual total on record. That's a lot of potential conflicts. An exact-match search won't catch most of them. Phonetic similarities, visual resemblances, and related Nice classes all matter.
This guide walks you through the EUIPO database step by step, from running your first EUTM search to reading the results correctly. Whether you're filing in the EU for the first time, expanding from another jurisdiction, or building clearance into a product, you'll know exactly what to look for and what most people miss.
What the EUIPO Database Covers
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) maintains the EU trademark register at euipo.europa.eu. It's free to search via a tool called eSearch plus, requires no account, and holds over 3.2 million trademark records dating back to 1996.
The single biggest advantage of the EU system: one EUTM registration covers all 27 EU member states. You don't file separately in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. One application, one fee, one registration, 27 countries. That makes the EUTM appealing for companies entering or operating in Europe. It also raises the stakes on your search. If you miss a conflict, the registration covering 27 countries is the one that gets blocked.
Those 3.2 million records include several types:
EU trademarks (EUTMs). Marks filed directly with EUIPO. These are the core of the database. Anyone, anywhere in the world, can file an EUTM application. EU applicants accounted for 57.5% of all EUTM applications in 2025, meaning the remaining 42.5% came from outside the EU.
International designations via the Madrid Protocol. The Madrid Protocol lets trademark holders extend protection to multiple countries through one international application managed by WIPO. When an international registration designates the EU, EUIPO examines it and, if accepted, it appears in the database with the same legal effect as a direct EUTM filing.
Registered Community designs. eSearch plus also covers design registrations (product shapes, patterns, graphical designs). These aren't trademarks, but they appear in the same search interface. Filter your results to trademarks if you're doing a trademark clearance search.
What the EUIPO database does not cover: national trademarks registered in individual EU member states. Germany's DPMA, France's INPI, Spain's OEPM, and every other national office each maintain their own registers. A mark registered only at the German national office won't appear in eSearch plus. This is the most important limitation to understand. A clear EUIPO search doesn't mean a clear path in Germany, France, or any specific country. Earlier national rights in a member state can be used to challenge your EUTM through opposition or invalidity proceedings.
Post-Brexit context. EUTMs filed after 1 January 2021 do not cover the United Kingdom. If you need UK protection, you'll need a separate filing with the UKIPO. EUTMs that existed before that date were automatically cloned as comparable UK marks, but any new EUTM filing gives you zero UK coverage. For details on searching the UK register, see the UK trademark search guide.
How to Search the EUIPO Database (Step by Step)
Go to euipo.europa.eu/eSearch. This is EUIPO's eSearch plus tool, and it's the fastest way to search EU trademarks for free. No login required for basic searches, and it covers all EUTMs and international designations.
Step 1: Search by trademark name
Enter your proposed mark name in the search field. eSearch plus defaults to searching across trademarks, designs, and owners. For clearance purposes, select "Trade marks" to narrow the scope.
eSearch plus offers three search modes:
-
Exact. Returns only marks matching your term character-for-character. Useful for checking a specific known mark, but dangerous as your only search. A different spelling that sounds identical won't appear.
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Contains. Returns marks containing your search term anywhere in the name. Broader, but still limited to literal string matching.
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Fuzzy/Similar. This is the one that matters most. The fuzzy search finds marks that are phonetically or visually similar, even with different spellings. "AURORA" would catch "AWRORA," "AURORAA," and potentially "ORORA." Always run a fuzzy search.
Start with the fuzzy search. Then run exact and contains as a backstop.
Step 2: Filter by Nice class
Nice classification is the international system for categorizing goods and services into 45 classes. Class 9 covers software. Class 25 covers clothing. Class 42 covers software development services.
eSearch plus lets you filter by one or more Nice classes. Always filter. A search for "AURORA" with no class filter will return hundreds of results across every category. Most won't be relevant to your goods or services.
But don't filter too narrowly. If you're filing for software (Class 9), also check Class 42 (software development services) and Class 35 (online retail). EUIPO examiners consider marks in related classes, and third parties in related classes can file oppositions.
Step 3: Filter by status
Filter results by trademark status to focus your search. For clearance, start with live marks: registered, filed, and published. These are the ones that can block you.
Dead marks (expired, withdrawn, surrendered) are lower priority, but don't ignore them entirely. A recently expired mark could be renewed within the grace period, or the owner might refile.
Step 4: Use advanced filters
eSearch plus offers additional filters that can sharpen your results:
- Filing date range. Narrow results to a specific period.
- Owner country. See which marks come from a particular jurisdiction.
- Mark type. Filter by word marks, figurative marks, or other types.
- Vienna classification. For figurative marks, filter by the visual elements using Vienna codes.
Step 5: Search by owner or representative
If you want to see everything a specific company or law firm handles at EUIPO, search by owner or representative name. This is useful for competitive intelligence or checking whether a company you've already identified holds EU rights.
Step 6: Set up watch alerts
If you create a free eSearch plus account, you can save searches and set up watch alerts. EUIPO will notify you when new applications are filed that match your criteria. This is useful after you've filed your own mark, to monitor for potential conflicts going forward.
Reading Your Search Results
Your search returns a list of marks. Each entry includes several fields. Here's what to focus on.
Status. The most important field. Key statuses you'll see in eSearch plus:
- Registered means the mark is live and protected across all 27 EU member states. This is the one that can block you.
- Filed / Application received means someone has applied but the mark hasn't been examined yet. It still creates a potential conflict because it has an earlier filing date.
- Published means the mark passed examination and is in its 3-month opposition period. Almost registered.
- Opposition pending means someone has filed an opposition. Outcome uncertain.
- Cancelled / Expired / Surrendered means the mark is no longer active. Lower risk, but not zero.
Filing and registration dates. Earlier dates mean priority. If you file after someone else in the same or related classes, their mark takes precedence.
Nice classes. Shows which goods and services the mark covers. Compare these to the classes you plan to file in. Even non-identical classes can create conflicts when the goods or services are related.
Owner. Who holds the mark. Useful for assessing enforcement likelihood. A multinational with an active legal team is more likely to oppose than a dormant holding company.
Seniority claims. Some EUTMs carry a "seniority" claim from a national trademark in an EU member state. This means the owner had an earlier national registration and has claimed its seniority in the EUTM. If the EUTM is ever cancelled, the owner can fall back on the national right. Seniority claims appear in the detailed record.
International designations vs. direct filings. International registrations designating the EU appear alongside direct EUTM filings. They carry the same legal effect but show a WIPO registration number in addition to the EUIPO identifier. The goods and services descriptions may differ slightly from a direct filing.
Assessing conflict risk
Trademark conflict isn't binary. Think of it as a spectrum:
- High risk: Same or very similar mark, same or closely related Nice class, mark is registered and owner is active. Walk away or get legal advice before proceeding.
- Medium risk: Similar (not identical) mark, related class, mark is registered. Worth a conversation with a trademark attorney.
- Lower risk: Somewhat similar mark, unrelated class, or mark is expired/cancelled. Probably workable, but document your reasoning.
No search result is a guarantee either way. A clear search means no obvious conflicts on the EUIPO register. It doesn't mean no one will oppose your application, and it says nothing about national registers.
5 Common Mistakes in European Trademark Searches
1. Searching exact matches only
This is the mistake from the opening paragraph. EUIPO's eSearch plus has fuzzy matching for a reason: the examiner and third-party opponents consider phonetic and visual similarity, not just spelling. If you only run an exact search, you'll miss the marks most likely to block you. "AURORA" and "AWRORA" are different strings but the same conflict. Always use the fuzzy/similar search.
2. Ignoring related Nice classes
You're launching a fintech app and you search Class 9 (software) and Class 36 (financial services). Makes sense. But did you check Class 42 (software development services)? Class 35 (business management platforms)? Trademark conflicts cross class boundaries when the goods and services are related. A software brand in Class 9 and a SaaS platform in Class 42 can absolutely conflict.
3. Assuming a EUTM covers the UK
Post-Brexit, this catches people constantly. EUTMs filed after 1 January 2021 do not cover the United Kingdom. If your expansion plan includes both the EU and the UK, you need two separate filings: one with EUIPO and one with the UKIPO. Search both registers. For details on searching the UK, see the UK trademark search guide.
4. Not checking national registers
This is the most consequential mistake on this list. A clear EUIPO search does not mean a clear path in any specific EU member state. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and every other EU country maintain their own national trademark registers. A mark registered only at the German DPMA won't appear in eSearch plus. And that national mark can be used as a basis for opposition or invalidity proceedings against your EUTM.
If you're focused on specific EU markets, search the relevant national registers too. For more on how trademark rules differ by jurisdiction, see the jurisdiction guide. TMview (see next section) can help by aggregating multiple national registers into one search.
5. Treating a clear search as an all-clear
A clean EUIPO search result doesn't mean your application will succeed. Third parties have 3 months to oppose after publication. National rights holders can challenge your EUTM. Someone may file a similar mark between your search date and your filing date.
A trademark search reduces risk. It doesn't eliminate it. Treat your results as strong evidence, not a guarantee, and file promptly after searching so the gap between search and application is as short as possible.
Beyond the EUIPO Database
A European trademark search on the EUIPO register covers EUTMs and international designations. A proper clearance search goes wider.
TMview. Run by EUIPO itself, TMview aggregates data from 70+ trademark offices, including all EU national offices. This is the fastest way to check whether a mark is registered at both the EU and national level in a single search. If you're worried about national conflicts (and you should be, per mistake #4 above), TMview is your first stop. Free at tmdn.org/tmview.
WIPO Global Brand Database. Covers international registrations filed through the Madrid Protocol. If someone has filed an international mark designating the EU, it appears both here and in eSearch plus. The WIPO database is useful for seeing the full scope of an international registration, including which other countries outside the EU it covers. Search at branddb.wipo.int.
National registers of key EU markets. For high-priority markets, search the national registers directly. Germany (DPMA at dpma.de), France (INPI at inpi.fr), Spain (OEPM at oepm.es), Italy (UIBM), and the Benelux (BOIP). These offices have their own free search tools. If you're launching specifically in Germany, a DPMA search is essential alongside your EUIPO search.
When to search EUIPO vs. national vs. both. If you're filing a EUTM, search eSearch plus first, then TMview for national coverage. If you're filing in a single EU country, search that country's national register first, then EUIPO (because an existing EUTM would cover that country too). If you're doing a full international filing across both EU and non-EU countries, search everything.
API-based clearance. If you're building trademark clearance into a product or running searches at volume, manual database searches don't scale. Signa indexes 3.2 million EUIPO records with daily sync, alongside data from other major offices. For teams running multi-office clearance or building search into their own products, a single API call covers EUIPO alongside other offices.
curl -G "https://api.signa.so/v1/trademarks" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $SIGNA_API_KEY" \
--data-urlencode "q=AURORA" \
--data-urlencode "offices=euipo" \
--data-urlencode "nice_classes=9,42"
const signa = new Signa({ api_key: process.env.SIGNA_API_KEY });
const results = await signa.trademarks.list({
query: 'AURORA',
filters: {
offices: ['euipo'],
nice_classes: [9, 42],
},
});
Both examples search EUIPO records for marks similar to "AURORA" in Classes 9 and 42. You can filter by office, class, status, and other fields across multiple jurisdictions in one request.
EUTM Filing Costs and Timeline (2026)
If your search comes back clear and you're ready to file, here's what a EUTM costs and how long the process takes.
Filing fees (electronic):
- First class: €850
- Second class: €50
- Each additional class from the third onward: €150
- A three-class application costs €1,050 total
Paper filing costs €1,000 for the first class. Electronic filing is the standard. There's no reason to file on paper unless you have no alternative.
Renewal fees (online, every 10 years):
- First class: €850
- Second class: €50
- Each additional class from the third onward: €150
EUTM Electronic Filing Costs by Number of Classes (2026)
For context on how EU costs compare to other jurisdictions, see the breakdown of trademark costs across offices.
Timeline (unopposed):
- Examination: approximately 1 month
- Publication for opposition: 3 months (fixed, not extendable)
- Total from filing to registration: typically 4-6 months if no opposition is filed
The 3-month opposition period is the key difference from many other offices. In the UK, the opposition period is 2 months (extendable by 1 month). In Canada, it's 2 months. The EU's 3 months is fixed. No extensions.
These costs are for filing directly with EUIPO. If you use a trademark attorney or representative (recommended for anything beyond a straightforward filing), add their fees on top. You can also file a EUTM through the Madrid Protocol via WIPO, which uses a different fee structure paid in Swiss francs.
Your Next Steps
Once you're ready to run a European trademark search, here's the practical sequence:
- Run a fuzzy/similar search on euipo.europa.eu/eSearch for your proposed mark, filtered to your relevant Nice classes.
- Check related classes, not just your primary one.
- Search TMview for national marks in key EU markets that won't appear in eSearch plus.
- If you need UK coverage, search the UKIPO register separately. See the UK trademark search guide.
- If you're expanding to Canada as well, see the Canada trademark search guide.
- If you find potential conflicts, talk to a trademark attorney before filing. If the search looks clear, file promptly to secure your filing date.
For API-based clearance across EUIPO and other offices, Signa's trademark search indexes 3.2 million EUIPO records with daily sync.
A thorough European trademark search takes about an hour of focused work. That hour can save you from a 3-month opposition proceeding, or worse, an invalidity action from a national rights holder that forces a rebrand across 27 countries.
Consult a trademark attorney for legal guidance specific to your situation. This guide explains the process and the tools available, but it's not a substitute for professional legal advice.