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Rechtsanwalt Marian Härtel - ITMediaLaw

Single letters as trademarks

24. September 2024
in Other
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Key Facts
  • Individual letters can be registered as trademarks if they have sufficient distinctive character and are not descriptive.
  • In 2000, the Federal Court of Justice confirmed the trademarkability of individual letters under German trademark law.
  • In 2010, the ECJ ruled that individual letters are not unprotectable, depending on the perception of the relevant public.
  • In 2022, the European Court of First Instance ruled that minor differences in design can rule out a likelihood of confusion.
  • Word marks have no graphic design, whereas word/figurative marks combine textual and graphic elements.
  • The DPMA administers national trademarks, while the EUIPO grants EU-wide protection for EU trademarks.
  • The choice between national and EU trademarks depends on the area of application, budget and distinctiveness.

Individual letters as trademarks – protection with restrictions

Content Hide
1. Eligibility for registration of single letters
2. Limited scope of protection
3. Differences between word marks and word/figurative marks
4. DPMA vs. EUIPO: Differences in trademark registration
5. Single-image marks at the DPMA and EUIPO
6. Conclusion for practice
6.1. Author: Marian Härtel

In principle, individual letters can be registered and protected as trademarks. However, the scope of protection of such “one-letter marks” is often limited in practice. Here is a comprehensive overview of the current legal situation and the differences between various types of trademarks and the responsible offices:

Eligibility for registration of single letters

Individual letters can be registered as trademarks under both German and European trademark law. The prerequisite is that they have sufficient distinctive character and are not purely descriptive. The Federal Court of Justice clarified as early as 2000 that individual letters are generally eligible as trademarks.

Limited scope of protection

In practice, however, the scope of protection of one-letter trademarks is often interpreted very narrowly:

  • Courts and trademark offices examine the specific graphic design very closely when assessing the likelihood of confusion. Even if two marks use the same letter, a likelihood of confusion can be denied if the overall visual appearance is different.
  • In 2010, the ECJ ruled that individual letters are not per se unprotectable. However, it must be examined in each individual case how the relevant public perceives the mark (judgment of 09.09.2010, C-265/09 P – α).
  • In 2022, the European Court of First Instance emphasized in a case concerning two “K” marks that even slight differences in the design of individual letters can be sufficient to rule out a likelihood of confusion (judgment of 09.11.2022, T-610/21).

Differences between word marks and word/figurative marks

Word marks consist exclusively of words, letters, numbers or other characters without any graphic design. The protection of a word mark generally covers all customary forms of reproduction, including different fonts and capitalization.

Word/figurative marks, on the other hand, combine textual elements with graphic design elements. They offer the advantage that they are often registrable even if a pure word mark would be rejected, for example in the case of descriptive terms or terms that need to be kept free. However, their scope of protection is often limited to the specific graphic design.

DPMA vs. EUIPO: Differences in trademark registration

The **German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA)** is responsible for registering national German trade marks, while the **European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)** administers EU trade marks with EU-wide protection.

Application procedure:
– DPMA: The trademark is registered and published after examination of the absolute grounds for refusal. The objection period only begins after publication.
– EUIPO: The EU trademark will only be registered after the opposition period has expired if no opposition has been filed.

Costs:
– DPMA: 300 euros (290 euros for electronic filing) for up to three classes, each additional class 100 euros.
– EUIPO: 850 euros for one class for online filing, 50 euros for the second class, from the third class 150 euros per class.

Scope of protection:
– DPMA: Protection only in Germany.
– EUIPO: Uniform protection in all EU member states.

Single-image marks at the DPMA and EUIPO

There are no significant differences in the application procedure between the DPMA and the EUIPO for single-image marks, i.e. purely figurative marks without word elements. Both offices examine single-image marks for absolute grounds for refusal and distinctiveness. The requirements for graphic representability and the assessment of protectability are largely identical.

As with other trademark forms, the main difference lies in the territorial scope of protection and the associated costs and procedures. A single-image mark applied for at the DPMA enjoys protection in Germany, while a single-image mark applied for at the EUIPO is protected throughout the EU.

Conclusion for practice

The choice between a national trademark and a European Union trademark as well as between different trademark forms depends on various factors, such as the planned area of use, the budget and the distinctive character of the sign. In the case of single letters and single-picture marks, particular attention must be paid to a characteristic design in order to increase the scope of protection.

Overall, it can be seen that trademark offices and courts examine one-letter trademarks and single-image trademarks very closely and strive for a fair balance between trademark protection and the need to keep them free. Careful planning and professional advice can help to achieve optimum protection for your own trademark, regardless of whether the application is filed with the DPMA or EUIPO.

 

Marian Härtel
Author: Marian Härtel

Marian Härtel ist Rechtsanwalt und Fachanwalt für IT-Recht mit einer über 25-jährigen Erfahrung als Unternehmer und Berater in den Bereichen Games, E-Sport, Blockchain, SaaS und Künstliche Intelligenz. Seine Beratungsschwerpunkte umfassen neben dem IT-Recht insbesondere das Urheberrecht, Medienrecht sowie Wettbewerbsrecht. Er betreut schwerpunktmäßig Start-ups, Agenturen und Influencer, die er in strategischen Fragen, komplexen Vertragsangelegenheiten sowie bei Investitionsprojekten begleitet. Dabei zeichnet sich seine Beratung durch einen interdisziplinären Ansatz aus, der juristische Expertise und langjährige unternehmerische Erfahrung miteinander verbindet. Ziel seiner Tätigkeit ist stets, Mandanten praxisorientierte Lösungen anzubieten und rechtlich fundierte Unterstützung bei der Umsetzung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zu gewährleisten.

Tags: BeratungBrandsEuFederal courtGermanyIntellectual propertyPatentTrademarks

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  • Informationen
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      • Focus on start-ups
      • Investment advice
      • Corporate law
      • Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and Games
      • AI and SaaS
      • Streamers and influencers
      • Games and esports law
      • IT/IP Law
      • Law firm for GMBH,UG, GbR
      • Law firm for IT/IP and media law
    • The everyday life of an IT lawyer
    • How can I help clients?
    • Testimonials
    • Team: Saskia Härtel – WHO AM I?
    • Agile and lean law firm
    • Price overview
    • Various information
      • Terms
      • Privacy policy
      • Imprint
  • Services
    • Support and advice of agencies
    • Contract review and preparation
    • Games law consulting
    • Consulting for influencers and streamers
    • Advice in e-commerce
    • DLT and Blockchain consulting
    • Legal advice in corporate law: from incorporation to structuring
    • Legal compliance and expert opinions
    • Outsourcing – for companies or law firms
    • Booking as speaker
  • News
    • Gloss / Opinion
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