Trademark renewal

The registration of a trademark is valid for a period of 10 years. At the end of this period, it must be renewed to continue to benefit from protection.

When and how to renew?

A registered trademark is valid for 10 years, but can be renewed indefinitely. If it is not renewed, it will no longer enjoy any protection and the property right will lapse. Each validity period expires 10 years after the date of filing, and a notification from INPI is sent to the holder 6 months before the end of the validity period. Please note: mail is sent to the last registered address, so it's important to remember to notify INPI of any changes.

Trademark renewal is possible up to 12 months before the expiry date, and no application will be considered before this date. In principle, however, it is not possible to renew a trademark after it has expired. However, an additional period of 6 months has been introduced: the grace period. During this period, all renewals will be subject to a surcharge of 50% of the initial fee.

Since 2015, the renewal procedure has been greatly simplified, as it can now be carried out directly online.

Who has to renew?

In principle, the owner of the trade mark registered in the National Register of Trademarks to proceed with its renewal, but other hypotheses are possible.

Use of an agent

The trademark owner may call upon an professional representative to represent him. He will nevertheless be obliged to do so when he is neither established nor domiciled in France or in another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area.

In case of change of ownership

Where the person wishing to renew is different from the person who has carried out the registration of the trademarkThe change of ownership must have been recorded in the National Trademark Register, i.e. before or at the same time as the renewal application.

Trademark modification at renewal

No modification of the trademark to alter the sign or extend the protection is possible after its filing, nor is it possible when it is renewed. On the other hand, the proprietor may reduce the list of goods and services at any time. At renewal, this is also possible, whether it is a question of deleting entire classes or only specific goods and/or services.

To broaden the scope of protection granted to a trademark, change its name or appearance, a new filing is required.