EU Trademark Search: How to Use the EUIPO Database and TMview

Before filing a European Union Trade Mark (EUTM) application, a thorough trademark search is the single most important step you can take to avoid costly conflicts. An earlier identical or similar trademark can lead to a third-party opposition or even post-registration cancellation. EUIPO's own examination covers absolute grounds only, so the office will not raise the earlier trademark for you.

EUIPO and its partner offices provide several free online databases that let you search existing trademarks across Europe and beyond.

Pro tip: Before diving into database searches, run a free trademark check through our platform for a quick initial assessment of your brand's availability across European Union registers.

Why search before filing?

Filing an EUTM without searching is like signing a lease without inspecting the property. Here is what a search protects you from:

• Opposition from owners of earlier rights. The 3-month opposition period means anyone with a prior right can challenge your application.
• Wasted government fees. The EUIPO fee is €850 for one class, €50 for the second class, and €150 for each further class, and it is not refunded if the application is opposed or withdrawn. Knowing your class count before you search tells you how much is at stake.
• Delayed market entry. An opposition can add 12 to 24 months to your timeline.
• Legal costs. The EUIPO opposition fee alone is €320 before any attorney time, and defending or settling an opposition costs far more than a pre-filing search.

A full search strategy combines multiple databases and search techniques. For the Total you pay on an EU trademark filing, see our pricing page.

EUIPO's eSearch Plus Database

eSearch plus is EUIPO's primary search tool, covering:

• All EUTMs: pending, registered, expired, and canceled
• International registrations that cover the European Union through WIPO's Madrid System (the Madrid Protocol)
• EUIPO decisions: opposition, cancellation, and appeal decisions
• Registered Community Designs (RCDs)

How to Search eSearch Plus

1. Go to euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/
2. Select "Trade marks" from the search type
3. Enter your search term in the "Trade mark name" field
4. Refine by:

- Nice Classification class numbers

- Trade mark type (word, figurative, etc.)

- Status (filed, registered, etc.)

- Owner name or country

1. Review results for identical and similar trademarks

Search Tips for eSearch Plus

• Use wildcards: The asterisk () replaces any number of characters. For example, searching "TECH" returns TECHNO, TECHNOLOGY, TECHSMART, etc.
• Search figurative elements: Use Vienna Classification codes to search for specific design elements in logos
• Check phonetic similarities: Search for phonetically similar spellings (e.g., "KLEEN" vs "CLEAN")
• Review expired trademarks: An expired EUTM may still have residual goodwill that a new application could conflict with

TMview: Searching National Registers Across Europe and Beyond

TMview is a collaborative tool maintained by EUIPO and the Trademark Network (TMDN). It aggregates trademark data from IP offices around the world, including every national office in the European Union.

Why TMview Matters

An EUTM can be opposed based on an earlier national trademark in any European Union member state, not only earlier EUTMs. TMview lets you search national registers that would not appear in eSearch plus:

• German (DPMA), French (INPI), Spanish (SPTO), and Italian (UIBM) trademarks
• Benelux (BOIP), Nordic, and Central European national trademarks
• Trademarks from countries outside the European Union (the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and others) for wider global clearance

How to Search TMview

1. Go to tmdn.org/tmview/
2. Enter your brand name or keywords
3. Select the offices you want to search (e.g., all offices in the European Union)
4. Filter by Nice classes, trademark type, status, and filing dates
5. Review results, paying attention to trademarks in the same or related classes

The GTC advantage: Our free trademark check goes beyond the free database tools: an experienced attorney reviews phonetic, visual, and conceptual similarity across the countries and regions that matter to you, and you receive the result in writing.

TMclass: Goods and Services Classification

TMclass is EUIPO's classification tool for finding accepted goods and services terms under the Nice Classification system. While not a trademark search tool as such, it is essential for:

• Determining your classes before searching. You need to know which classes to focus on, and Class Assist gives you a quick first answer.
• Finding harmonized terms: terms accepted across multiple offices in the European Union
• Fast Track eligibility: only applications using TMclass-accepted terms qualify for EUIPO's Fast Track program

AI-Assisted Screening: Useful for Breadth, Not for the Decision

Search tools increasingly use AI to rank results by similarity, catch phonetic and transliteration variants across the languages of the European Union, and compare logos by image. Used well, this cuts a first screen from days to hours. Three rules keep it honest:

• Use AI for the knockout pass. Let it sweep eSearch plus and TMview results and rank near matches by similarity, class overlap, and country.
• Do not let it make the call. Likelihood of confusion under European Union practice turns on the goods, the average consumer in each country, and the reputation of the earlier trademark. That is a legal judgment. AI tools can miss context or report a registry status that is wrong, so check every "clear" result against the register itself.
• Write down what you did. A short memo listing the databases searched, the date, the closest hits, and why you proceeded is what you will want if a dispute ever arises.

GTC's own search work pairs this kind of screening with review by our experienced attorneys.

Types of Similarity to Check

When evaluating search results, consider three types of similarity that EUIPO assesses in opposition and invalidity proceedings:

1. Visual Similarity

How the trademarks look when seen side by side. Compare letter sequences, word length, shared prefixes or suffixes, and overall visual impression.

2. Phonetic Similarity

How the trademarks sound when spoken aloud. Trademarks spelled differently but pronounced similarly (e.g., "XERO" and "ZERO") can still conflict.

3. Conceptual Similarity

What the trademarks mean or evoke. Two trademarks with different spellings and sounds may still conflict if they share the same concept (e.g., "JAGUAR" and a jaguar logo).

The overall assessment combines all three types and weighs them against the similarity of the goods and services.

Building a Full Search Strategy

A thorough pre-filing search should include:

Beyond Database Searches

Free databases have limitations. A professional clearance search also considers:

• Common law rights: unregistered trademarks with established goodwill
• Company names: trading names that may constitute earlier rights
• Domain names: relevant web presences that indicate prior use
• Phonetic analysis: algorithmic comparison tools that catch similarities humans might miss

Interpreting Search Results

Finding a similar trademark does not necessarily mean you cannot file. Consider:

1. Class overlap: are the goods/services in the same or related classes?
2. Country: is the earlier trademark in a relevant European Union country?
3. Status: is the trademark still active, or has it expired or been canceled?
4. Genuine use: has the earlier trademark been used in the last 5 years? (Non-use can be a defense in opposition proceedings)
5. Coexistence potential: can the trademarks coexist in the marketplace without confusion?

When to Seek Professional Help

DIY searches are a good starting point, but they have limits. Consider professional assistance if:

• Your brand name is in a crowded field (common words, tech terms, etc.)
• You are filing in multiple classes across related goods and services
• Your trademark includes a figurative element (logo) that requires visual comparison
• You need a freedom-to-operate opinion before investing in brand assets
• You are filing from outside the European Union and unfamiliar with European trademark practice (our European Union country guide covers the basics)

From Search to Filing

Once your search is complete and you are confident in availability:

1. Finalize your goods and services classification
2. Prepare your EUTM application via the EUIPO portal
3. Consider Fast Track filing for accelerated processing
4. Set up trademark monitoring after registration to catch conflicting filings early

Run a free trademark check to get started, or explore our EU trademark service for clearance and filing in one package.

Sources

• EUIPO eSearch plus
• TMview
• TMclass
• EUIPO