Trademarks and Designs

Brands and designs shape the perception of companies and products. They create recognition, trust, and economic value. At the same time, legal and actual pressure is increasing due to imitation, dilution, and growing disputes over trademarks and designs. We support companies in strategically building up their trademark and design rights, consistently securing them, and effectively enforcing them.

FGvW provides comprehensive advice on trademark and design law. We support our clients from the development of a property rights strategy through the registration and management of portfolios to the enforcement and defense of rights in conflict situations. Our approach combines legal precision with a clear view of the market, product, and communication.

Our main areas of expertise include in particular:

• Consulting and strategy: Development of registration strategies for national, EU-wide, and international trademark and design protection
• Management of trademark and design portfolios: Analysis and consolidation, elimination of gaps in property rights, cost optimization
• Trademark and design registrations in Germany and abroad: Product and store brands, logos and slogans, designs, packaging, equipment
• Similarity searches: Checking the availability of a trademark or company name before registration and commencement of use, trademark monitoring
• Registration and opposition proceedings: Representation before the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market and the European courts (Community trademarks) as well as before the German Patent and Trademark Office and the Federal Patent Court
• Court proceedings concerning trademark and design infringement: representation in proceedings for cessation of use and cancellation of the infringing sign, information and damages
• Drafting and negotiating contracts: drafting of demarcation agreements, purchase and license agreements

We consider trademark and design law to be an integral part of corporate value creation. Our consultants work closely with related areas of law to ensure that trademark, competition, and distribution-related aspects are consistently taken into account. The aim is not only to secure property rights formally, but also to use them in an economically sensible way.

Trademarks and designs require a clear line and consistent implementation. We support you in legally protecting your identity, preserving your creative freedom, and securing your position in the market in the long term.