French trademark

A French trademark is a trademark filed with the INPI, France’s national industrial property office. Filing is done online on the INPI’s website — in practice, through a French trademark attorney (see French trademark registration).

Territorial scope

The French mark is valid throughout the entire French territory, including the overseas departments and territories — a scope US counsel sometimes underestimates, since it reaches markets in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. One exception: the French mark no longer covers French Polynesia automatically; an additional fee of €60 is required to extend a French mark there.

Cost and timeline

• Official INPI fee: €190 for one class (plus €40 per additional class — see INPI fees and trademark fees and costs);
• Registration process: approximately five months from filing, absent irregularities or opposition — significantly faster than a typical USPTO prosecution, since no use evidence is examined and prior marks are not raised ex officio;
• Term: ten years from the filing date, renewable (see trademark renewal).

A French mark can also anchor international strategy: it can base a priority claim, an international (Madrid) registration, or a seniority claim for a later EU trademark.

See also: trademark filing, registration certificate, trademark clearance search.

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