Country：希腊 · Intellectual Property
Greece · Intellectual Property
Greek trademarks and patents can be filed nationally via OBI (Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation) or via EUIPO (EU IP Office) in a single registration covering Greece and all other EU member states. Copyright is automatically protected upon creation with no registration required. Chinese enterprises can choose the 'Greece-only' or 'EU-wide' protection route based on business radius.
Key points
- Trademarks/patents: via Greek OBI or EU EUIPO (one registration covers the whole EU including Greece)
- Copyright: automatic, no registration
- Designs: EU-wide registered design available
- Patent disputes litigable before Greek courts or the Unified Patent Court (UPC)
- EU trademarks/patents vs Greek national: different scope and time cost
Procedure
- Search prior rights
- Choose the route (OBI national / EUIPO EU)
- File the application and pay fees
- Registration after examination/publication
Hard requirements
- Foreign applicants must appoint a local representative
Costs
Filing and agency fees: EU route costlier but broader coverage⏱ ⏱ Timeline：Trademark about 4-6 months; patents longer⚠ Common risks
- Pre-emption by third parties (hot categories)
- Wrong EU vs Greece track choice causes protection gaps
- Late renewal lapses rights
Handbook
📘 Step-by-Step Handbook (with owner / timeline / cost / penalties)
Applies to：Chinese enterprises entering the Greek and EU markets (incl. shipping, tourism, manufacturing) filing trademarks, patents, designs and copyright protection; via the Greek national route (OBI), EU unified route (EUIPO) or European patent (EPO).
Prerequisites
- Protection type (trademark/invention/design) and route (national/EU/EP) determined
- Foreign applicants without a Greek or EU address must appoint a local representative
- Application documents usually require Greek translations
- Priority claims must be filed within 6 months (trademark) or 12 months (patent) of the first application
- Similarity search completed
| Step | Action | Owner | Timeline | Cost | Official form / system | Notes & penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IP asset inventory and search Search for similar trademarks or patents in OBI, EUIPO and WIPO databases | Greek IP representative | 1-2 weeks | Free or commissioned search about €150-500 | OBI / EUIPO / WIPO | Greek OBI is the sole national industrial property authority Penalty：No search may lead to conflicts or oppositions |
| 2 | Determine protection strategy Trademarks: OBI national registration, EUIPO EU trademark or Madrid designation of Greece; patents: Greek national or European patent (EPO) | Legal or local representative | — | Per official schedule | OBI / EUIPO / EPO / Madrid | European patents require validation and translation in Greece after grant Penalty：Wrong route leads to protection gaps |
| 3 | File trademark application File with OBI or EUIPO including drawings, classes and goods/services descriptions | Applicant or local representative | Formal examination weeks | OBI/EUIPO official fees per schedule | OBI/EUIPO application systems | One EUIPO registration covers the whole EU Penalty：Wrong classes require correction |
| 4 | Patent/design application File invention patent applications and request substantive examination; designs registered with OBI or EUIPO | Patent agent | Invention patents 2-4 years | Examination/annuity fees per schedule | OBI/EPO systems | European patents require Greek validation translation Penalty：No substantive examination request or late validation lapses the patent |
| 5 | Examination, publication and opposition Trademarks published after approval; third parties may oppose; EU trademark opposition period 3 months | OBI/EUIPO/opponent | EU trademark opposition period 3 months | Opposition fees per schedule | OBI/EUIPO opposition procedures | — Penalty：Failing to monitor publications misses response deadlines |
| 6 | Registration, grant and enforcement Registration certificates issued after grant; enforcement via Greek courts, EUIPO invalidity/revocation procedures or EU customs recordal | Legal/local lawyer | — | Enforcement fees per schedule | OBI / EUIPO / Greek courts | Copyright automatically protected under the Berne Convention Penalty：Unregistered marks hard to enforce when pre-empted |
| 7 | Renewal and maintenance Trademarks renewed every 10 years; patents pay annuities; European patents pay Greek validation maintenance fees | IP manager | Renew before trademark expiry | Renewal/annuity fees per schedule | OBI / EUIPO / EPO renewal systems | Late renewal has a grace period but with penalties Penalty：Late renewal lapses the right |
✅ Self-check list
⚠ Common pitfalls
EU unified route not compared影响：Multi-country filing costs higher规避：Prefer EUIPO/EPO for multiple member states
European patent not validated in Greece影响：No protection in Greece规避：Submit validation translation and fees on time after grant
Registered only in China, not in Greece影响：Pre-emption hard to enforce规避：Complete filing before market entry
Substantive examination requested late影响：Application lapses规避：Request substantive examination on time
Renewals and annuities ignored影响：Rights lapse规避：Build reminder mechanisms
Insufficient trademark distinctiveness影响：Rejected规避：Design distinctive marks
📅 Ongoing post-incorporation obligations
- Trademark renewal every 10 years
- Patent annuities paid yearly; Greek validation maintenance fees for European patents
- Retain trademark use evidence
- Continuous EU trademark publication and opposition monitoring
- Record rights changes with OBI/EUIPO
🔗 Official portals
📎 Source：Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI); EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)
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