The German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) reports a broad rise in demand for IP protection in 2025. Patent applications reached 62,050, up 4.7%; trade mark applications climbed to 96,328, an increase of 19.8%; and utility model filings rose 19.3% to 11,427. Growth in patents was supported by digital technologies, electric mobility and battery innovation, while the sharp increase in trade marks was linked in part to Chinese applicants and online-platform activity. Applications from China reached 10,027, up 196.2% year on year.
The figures point to more than a cyclical rebound. Germany remains an important testing ground for technology portfolios in batteries, mobility and communications, while platform commerce is making registered trade mark rights increasingly relevant to market access and enforcement. Businesses planning German filings should bring forward clearance work, class selection and portfolio review. They should also adjust payment procedures: since 1 July 2026, the DPMA's cash desks in Munich, Jena and Berlin have been closed and on-site cash payments are no longer accepted.
