Glossary
French: opposition de marque
A trademark opposition is the administrative procedure for objecting to the registration of a trademark application — the French/EU counterpart of a TTAB opposition, and in practice the main line of defense for brand owners, since neither the INPI nor the EUIPO refuses applications over prior marks on their own initiative.
When a mark is filed, it is published: French applications in the BOPI (the INPI’s official bulletin), EU applications in the EU trademark bulletin. Publication starts the opposition window:
Unlike the USPTO’s 30-day window, these deadlines are not extendable — which is why systematic trademark watch matters in Europe.
Opposition is administrative, in contrast to court proceedings before the Tribunal judiciaire, and it is optional. A successful opponent obtains the refusal of the opposed application — but neither the INPI nor the EUIPO can award damages or issue injunctions against use of the sign. Stopping actual use requires separate court action (see trademark infringement in France).
Oppositions against international registrations are filed with the relevant office: the INPI for the French designation of an international mark, the EUIPO for the EU designation.
See also: INPI opposition, EUIPO opposition, likelihood of confusion.