Trademark Lawyer Munich
20 years alongside iconic brands
Excellence in trademark law — we protect what creates long-term value: your intellectual property.
Trademark
With over 4,500 trademark applications, we are among the most active law firms in Germany in the field of trademark law.
- Trademark applications
- Defense of your trademark
- Action against trademark infringements
- Border seizure & product piracy
- Trademark monitoring
Design
We advise and represent you with expertise and experience in all matters of design law.
- Design protection
- Action against infringements
- Action against imitations
- Licensing agreements
Copyright
We represent creatives such as authors, designers, artists, musicians, and programmers, as well as rights holders such as agencies, labels, and publishers.
- Photography law
- Film law
- Model rights
- Music law
- Licensing law
Competition Law
The UWG sets the rules of competition for you and your competitors.
- Action against unfair competition
- Defense
- Misleading advertising
- Trade secrets
- Supplementary protection of product appearance
ZIERHUT*IP – For over 20 years at the side of strong brands
ZIERHUT*IP is a truly specialized firm that works discreetly for brands around the world.
As a boutique law firm, we combine legal expertise with entrepreneurial understanding.
We support start-ups, medium-sized companies, and international brands — personally, efficiently, and at the highest level.
Specialization
We are fully dedicated to the protection of intellectual property. Our opponents quickly realize what true specialization means.
Passion
Passion is our driving force: expertise alone is not enough for us. Only the combination of knowledge, creativity, and genuine commitment produces solutions that truly move clients forward — and that is what we are passionate about every single day.
Experience
Experience cannot be learned — it is earned. Case by case, year after year.
5× Handelsblatt & Best Lawyers® Ranking – “Germany’s Best Lawyers”
An award that affirms our standards — and strengthens our drive.
For the fifth consecutive year, we have been recognized by Best Lawyers® and Handelsblatt as one of Germany’s leading trademark law firms.
This distinction is both an honor and a motivation. It reinforces our commitment to providing outstanding counsel to clients of every size.
Dedication, precision, and passion for trademarks pay off — day after day.
7× Gamechangers™ Awards – “Brand Protection Law Firm of the Year”
This global award honors firms that set benchmarks in their field through innovation, exceptional quality, and sustainable results.
Awarded for the seventh consecutive year as “Brand Protection Law Firm of the Year.”
Analysis & Strategy
We review your trademark portfolio and develop a tailored protection strategy — nationally or internationally.
Protection & Filing
From research to registration, we secure your trademark legally and create a solid foundation.
Enforcement
We defend your trademark consistently and support you long term — worldwide.
Schedule an Initial Consultation
How can we support you?
Let’s discuss your matter.
We look forward to hearing from you — in person, by phone, or via email.
Adress:
Maximilianstr. 33
80539 München
Contact us:
muc@zierhut.com
+49 89 3589 5810
- Experienced: 4,500+ trademarks handled
- Specialized: Highly specialized trademark law experts
- Direct: One dedicated point of contact
- Reliable: Strategies built with precision and responsibility
Your Trademark Lawyer in Munich
Trademarks are among a company’s most valuable assets.
This makes it all the more important to ensure protection that works worldwide — from registration to rigorous enforcement.
A strong trademark creates differentiation, boosts recognition, and forms the foundation for long-term commercial success — often across national borders.
This is where we come in: with deep expertise in German, European, and international trademark law (DPMA).
Rights Derived from a Trademark – What It Protects
With registration, the trademark owner acquires exclusive rights and can prohibit third parties from:
Using identical or confusingly similar signs
Offering goods or services under the protected sign
Importing or exporting goods under the sign
Using the sign in advertising or commercial documents
When trademark infringements occur, we enforce your rights through:
Injunctive relief
Claims for damages
Destruction and recall of infringing goods
Disclosure of origin, distribution channels, and profits
Seizure by customs authorities
Management of National & International Trademark Portfolios
For more than 20 years, the strategic management of complex trademark portfolios has been one of our core strengths.
We support brands worldwide — from filing and clearance searches to monitoring — and represent our clients before the DPMA, EUIPO, and European courts.
Our monitoring system detects conflicts at an early stage, enabling us to block conflicting trademark applications immediately upon publication.
Cross-Border Trademark Disputes
Thanks to our international network, we handle complex trademark disputes across jurisdictions.
We have extensive experience before German courts as well as in key markets such as the United States and China. This ensures your trademark is consistently protected, defended, and enforced worldwide.
Trademark Enforcement & Anti-Counterfeiting
We investigate – we analyze – we enforce your trademark rights
1. Evidence Collection
We identify trademark infringements on online marketplaces, webshops, social media, and physical markets.
We secure admissible evidence, identify key offenders, gather relevant data, and uncover structures and networks behind the infringements.
2. Covert Test Purchases
To verify suspected infringements, we conduct discreet test purchases — fully documented, legally compliant, and supported by international partners.
This allows us to determine conclusively whether the products involved are counterfeits, imitations, or parallel imports.
3. Tailored Anti-Counterfeiting Strategies
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. We develop customized strategies for both online and offline markets and leverage the full range of civil and criminal enforcement measures.
With over 20 years of experience and a global network, we stop infringers effectively — even in manufacturing countries.
Brand Protection at the EU’s External Borders
For more than two decades, we have been pioneers in border seizure proceedings.
We work closely with European customs authorities, mobile enforcement teams, and law-enforcement agencies to protect trademarks at the border.
Based on our information, customs authorities:
- initiate border control procedures
- inspect suspicious shipments
- seize potentially counterfeit goods
This allows us to stop infringements before counterfeit products even enter the European market.
Competition Law
Competition law ensures fair market conduct and undistorted competition.
We take consistent action against unfair business practices — and equally defend companies against unjustified claims and warnings.
With more than 20 years of experience, we develop precise strategies that effectively protect your commercial freedom of action.
Licensing Law
Licensing is a key component in the commercial exploitation of intellectual property. We draft and negotiate legally sound licensing agreements for trademarks, designs, patents, and copyrighted works.
With over 20 years of experience, we support companies in licensing all forms of their IP — nationally and internationally.
FAQs on Trademark Law in Munich
Are you looking for an experienced trademark lawyer in Munich?
Our FAQs address the most important questions about trademark protection, trademark filing, trademark monitoring, and trademark enforcement.
As a specialized trademark law firm, we support companies, start-ups, and creatives in building, protecting, and enforcing their trademarks — nationally and internationally.
What is trademark law?
Trademark law protects identifiers such as word marks, figurative marks, logos, slogans, 3D shapes, or sound marks. It safeguards the distinctiveness of your products and services and forms the basis of a strong market position.
As trademark lawyers in Munich, we advise companies, start-ups, and creatives on how to register, monitor, and enforce trademarks effectively.
Why should I hire a trademark lawyer?
A trademark lawyer assesses whether your mark is registrable, prevents costly mistakes during the filing process, and protects you from future legal disputes.
We analyze collision risks, develop a strategic filing plan, and ensure your trademark is protected nationally, across Europe (EUIPO), or internationally.
Why is trademark registration useful?
A registered trademark gives you the exclusive right to use it and allows you to take action against imitators, free riders, or confusingly similar marks.
For businesses, it is a valuable commercial asset.
A trademark lawyer ensures that your application is legally sound and avoids common errors that can lead to refusals or oppositions.
How does the trademark application process work?
A professional filing typically involves several steps:
Trademark search – Checking for identical or similar existing marks
Specification of goods and services – Precise and strategic drafting
Filing with the DPMA, EUIPO, or WIPO
Office examination
Opposition period
Registration
As experienced trademark lawyers, we guide you through every step and handle international applications as well.
How much does a trademark registration cost?
The costs depend on:
- Type of trademark (word mark / figurative mark)
- Number of classes
- Filing authority (DPMA, EUIPO, WIPO)
- Any required pre-filing searches or strategic advice
Typical official fees at the DPMA start at €300 for three classes. We provide a transparent cost overview and advise you on all fees and chances of success.
How long does trademark protection last?
Trademark protection lasts for 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely in further 10-year periods.
With a long-term strategy and ongoing monitoring, a trademark lawyer ensures that your protection remains secure over time.
Can I license my trademark to others?
Yes. Trademarks can be licensed — exclusively or non-exclusively.
A professionally drafted license agreement regulates:
Scope of use
Territory
Quality control
Compensation
Termination
We draft and negotiate licensing agreements that safeguard your commercial interests.
What does trademark monitoring mean?
After registration — ideally starting immediately after filing — the most important phase begins: monitoring. This ensures that new trademark applications or market uses do not infringe upon or come too close to your own mark.
We provide professional trademark monitoring and intervene early — for example through oppositions or cease-and-desist notices.
What should you do if you received a cease-and-desist letter from Z I E R H U T * I P?
If you have received a trademark-related cease-and-desist letter from Z I E R H U T * I P in Munich, you should contact us directly before the deadline expires.
We always act with careful judgment and take your economic situation into account.
Many matters can be resolved quickly — often without needing your own lawyer, since the attached Hamburg-style cease-and-desist declaration typically cannot be made more favorable.
What role do design protection, domain law, or IP rights play?
Trademark protection is part of the broader field of intellectual property (IP).
Depending on your product or business model, additional rights may be important:
Design protection for product appearance
Copyright for creative works
Domain law to protect your digital identity
Competition law to prevent unfair practices
Patent and utility model law for technical inventions
As a specialized trademark law firm in Munich, we provide comprehensive advice on all related IP rights.
Do I need a trademark lawyer to file a trademark?
Legally, you may file a trademark without a lawyer — but in practice, this often leads to errors such as unclear specifications or missing clearance searches.
A specialized trademark lawyer minimizes cost risks, identifies conflicts early, and significantly increases your chances of a successful registration.
What happens if my trademark application is rejected?
If an application is refused due to absolute grounds for refusal or because of oppositions, a trademark lawyer can assess:
whether filing an appeal is advisable,
whether a modified application is possible,
or whether an alternative trademark strategy (e.g., word/figurative mark) may be more successful.
We develop a solution that best protects your position.
How quickly can a lawyer stop a trademark infringement?
In clear cases, we act within a few hours.
Typical first steps include:
Cease-and-desist letter
Preliminary injunction
Takedown procedures (online marketplaces / social media)
The earlier a trademark lawyer becomes involved, the higher the chances of limiting damage.
What does “likelihood of confusion” mean in trademark law?
Likelihood of confusion exists when an average consumer cannot clearly distinguish between two marks due to similarity in:
wording
sound
appearance
or meaning
A trademark lawyer evaluates the specific risk and enforces the appropriate measures.
How can I protect my trademark internationally?
There are three main routes to international protection:
EU Trade Mark (EUIPO) – protection in all EU member states
International Registration (WIPO/IR Mark) – protection in over 130 countries
National trademarks – protection country by country
As an internationally active law firm, we develop the optimal protection strategy for your business.
What happens if someone registers a similar domain?
Domains can infringe trademarks.
We assess whether:
a trademark infringement exists,
a claim for injunctive relief is available,
a domain transfer via UDRP/ADR is possible.
Frequently, a domain can be secured quickly and out of court — especially with the support of a specialized trademark attorney.
How often should a trademark be monitored?
Ideally, continuously. New applications are filed daily in international registers.
We offer professional trademark monitoring that detects conflicts early — before they cause economic harm.
Is a word mark better than a word/figurative mark?
A word mark generally provides the broadest protection because it applies regardless of font, color, or design.
It protects the word itself — no matter how it is displayed.
A word/figurative mark protects only the specific graphic design (logo, form, typography).
It can be useful when a mark is visually distinctive or when the word alone may be too descriptive.
A trademark lawyer determines which form best protects your business goals — often, a combination is ideal.
What is the difference between ™, ® and ©?
™
Commonly used in Anglo-American jurisdictions to indicate an unregistered trademark.
It has no legal effect in Germany but may serve as a notice.®
May only be used when a trademark is officially registered (e.g., with DPMA, EUIPO, or WIPO).
Misuse can be considered misleading advertising.©
Marks copyright-protected works (texts, photos, designs).
It has no effect in trademark law.
What should I do if a competitor uses my trademark in a Google Ads title?
Using another party’s trademark in Google Ads can constitute trademark infringement — especially when:
the ad gives the impression it originates from the trademark owner,
there is a likelihood of confusion,
or the trademark is unfairly exploited.
As trademark lawyers, we assess:
whether the ad is unlawful,
whether a claim for injunctive relief exists,
whether a cease-and-desist letter or injunction is appropriate,
or whether a takedown via Google is possible.
Act early — especially if competitors use your trademark to divert your customers.