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Symbolbild: Aufsteigenden Münzstapel mit SPielhäusern

Information from the DPMA

You want to know more about IP rights? Then visit the following pages:

  • Brochures and leaflets
    Here you can find material regarding IP rights that you can download as PDF files.
  • Search rooms
    You can use the search rooms at the DPMA locations in Munich and Berlin to conduct your search.
  • Initial consultation
    Experienced attorneys offer a free initial consultation regarding all types of IP rights at our locations. Please make an appointment by phone beforehand: +49 89 2195-1000
  • Workshops and seminars
    The DPMA regularly offers courses covering a variety of IP topics and trainings for searching patents, trade marks and designs using the public databases.

PIZ – your regional service provider

The German patent information centres (Patentinformationszentren, PIZ) are the local point of contact for inventors, companies and research institutes. As the DPMA’s long-standing cooperation partner they provide comprehensive information about IP rights at 17 locations all around Germany, especially for SMEs and founders. The centres offer top-quality and bespoke services and guarantee confidentiality. You can find out more about the PIZ services regarding the management of IP here: externer Link www.piznet.de (in German).

Legal consultation and representation

You have the option of filing for a patent, utility model, trade mark or design all by yourself. However, it might be advisable to hire a patent attorney or a lawyer with experience in the field of IP before doing so. This way you can avoid errors in your application that can’t be rectified at a later point. If the desired IP right leads to a significant increase in value for your company, the costs will be well worth it.

You can find externer Link patent attorneys and externer Link lawyers online.

Funding opportunities for SMEs

zwei Personen mit Unterlagen und Taschenrechner

  • SME Fund An initiative by the European Commission, implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
  • externer Link • WIPANO – knowledge and technology transfer via patents and standards: Funding program by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The program supports R&D at SMEs and wants to promote the strategic understanding of the patent system and of the advantages of IP rights. The funding supports the registration of a patent or utility model and includes the necessary consultations as well as a prior art search.
  • externer Link Federal Funding Advisory Service: Free consultation service for finding suitable funding opportunities for research and innovation projects, whether it be the development of products, services, processes or business models. It´s the first point of contact for the early phases of project planning.

Picture 1: iStock.com/skynesher, DPMA, Picture 2: Piznet, Picture 3: iStock.com/Worawee Meeplan, Picture 4: iStock.com/ijeab

Last updated: 3 February 2025