FAQ

A trademark grants its owner the exclusive right to use it and to prevent third parties from using it. This exclusive right reduces search costs for potential customers and creates an asset for the trademark owner. By registering, for example, a European Union trademark, you obtain at reasonable costs an exclusive right to use your trademark across all EU member states—a market of nearly five hundred million consumers.

You let us know which mark you would like to protect as a trademark — we take care of the rest: We conduct a search to determine whether the mark you want is already registered for the goods or services you offer and provide you with suggestions on how you might still proceed with your trademark application. Upon receiving your authorization, we file the application on your behalf and are registered in the trademark register as your representative. This means that all official correspondence — such as objections or oppositions — is sent to us, and we respond within the required deadlines. Of course, we also remind you to renew your trademark on time after 10 years.

The estimated costs (as of June 2025) for preparing and filing a trademark application in Switzerland (for two classes) amount to approximately CHF 1,200, including official fees. The costs for an application in Germany (for two classes) are around €950, including fees charged by the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). For a European Union trademark application (for two classes), valid in currently 27 member states, we estimate costs between €1,600 and €2,000.

It is often advisable to initially notify the infringer of the identified violation through a formal inquiry or a cease-and-desist letter. The cease-and-desist letter typically includes a declaration of undertaking, in which the infringer agrees, under threat of a contractual penalty, to immediately stop the infringement. Additionally, the infringer may be required to provide information about the duration of the infringement and the revenues generated from it.

Thanks to our admissions in Switzerland and Germany, we can issue cease-and-desist letters in both countries. If no declaration of undertaking is provided, we will initiate legal action on behalf of the trademark owner—usually before German courts, as the procedural costs are generally lower there.

The primary function of a trademark is to indicate the origin—that is, to show from which company the goods or services come (e.g., “Audi,” “A6”).

A design right (registered design) protects the external appearance of a product,
for example, a distinctive shape of a lamp. The requirements are novelty and
individual character. A registered design in Europe is initially valid for 5 years and can be extended up to a maximum of 25 years.

A patent protects technical inventions for up to 20 years, securing your investment against imitators. Patentable subject matter includes products and manufacturing processes from all technical fields. The invention must be new, inventive, and industrially applicable.

Note: Software is only patentable to a limited extent—usually only if it is associated with a technical effect.

Tip: File a patent application before discussing your invention with potential customers or investors—otherwise, the required novelty could be compromised.

If you have an idea for a technical solution, talk to us. Once engaged, we will guide you step by step through the entire application process.

In addition to national applications (e.g., CH, DE), we also offer European (EP) and international (PCT) applications. The latter gives you more time to decide in which countries you wish to seek patent protection.

The time until a patent is granted depends on the responsible office and the technical field. Typically, it takes between 24 and 36 months from filing until the European Patent Office (EPO) publishes the grant. National procedures (e.g., Switzerland or Germany) can sometimes be somewhat faster.

Yes. Thanks to the admission of our attorneys in both Germany and Switzerland, we can file trademark applications from our Zurich office for Germany or the entire EU—without the need for additional correspondent attorneys or detours.

Yes. Switzerland is a member of the European Patent Convention. Thanks to our admissions in Germany as well, we can directly file national German patents, European patents, and the new unitary patent for clients from Switzerland—without involving additional correspondent attorneys. This makes the entire application process simpler, more direct, and often more cost-effective.

Yes. Thanks to our German admission and many years of professional experience in Germany, handling cease-and-desist letters and lawsuits from Germany is part of our daily practice. We support both Swiss and German companies in defending against alleged infringements of patent, trademark, or competition rights—efficiently, directly, and with legal certainty.

Yes. The majority of our clients currently are companies based in Germany. In addition, we have been supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Switzerland for many years in all matters related to intellectual property rights.

The choice is entirely up to our clients. Personal meetings at our Zurich office are always possible. At the same time, collaboration via video conference (Zoom, Teams, etc.) has proven very effective in practice—even for proceedings before the European Patent Office, which are now routinely conducted digitally. Flexibility and personal accessibility remain our top priorities.