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Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Denmark

To register a trademark in Denmark, file with the Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO), apply for an EU trademark, or designate Denmark through Madrid. The DKPTO does not refuse over earlier marks but issues a search report; registration follows a 2-month opposition period after publication. No Danish agent is needed; English filings are accepted.

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Enter the mark, classes and applicant; an agent quotes after you submit. Once you accept the quote you pay online and can follow progress in your account.

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Five questions first

Which route?File with the DKPTO if Denmark is your main market and you want to keep fees down; apply for an EU trademark to enter several EU countries; with a home application or registration, you can also designate Denmark through Madrid.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address, the mark, and a list of goods or services by Nice class (it can be filed in English, with a Danish version to follow); if an agent acts, a power of attorney.Details ↓How are official fees charged?DKK 2,400 including 1 class, plus DKK 240 for the 2nd class and DKK 720 for each class from the 3rd; examination starts only after payment. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?The DKPTO states that examination is completed about 6 weeks after payment; the application is then published and registered if no opposition is filed within the 2-month period (statutory). Opposed cases take considerably longer.Details ↓What are the main risks?Earlier marks appear only in a search report and are enforced by their owners through opposition within 2 months; the application is refused if the Danish list of goods is not filed in time; fees paid are not refunded.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Denmark: key facts

OfficeDanish Patent and Trademark Office (Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen, DKPTO). Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawTrademarks Act (Varemærkeloven, Consolidated Act No. 88 of 2019, as amended by Act No. 1668 of 2024 and Act No. 1753 of 2025); procedural rules in the Order on the Application and Registration of Trademarks (No. 1685 of 2018)
Territorial scopeThe whole of Denmark, extended by royal decree to Greenland and the Faroe Islands; EU trademarks and international registrations designating Denmark are also valid in Denmark, but Greenland and the Faroe Islands are outside the EU treaties, so EU trademarks do not cover them
Basis of rightsRegistration or a Madrid designation of Denmark; a mark in continuous use in Denmark on more than a local scale also acquires rights, and unregistered marks well known in Denmark are protected
Foreign applicantsNo Danish agent is required; if an agent acts, a power of attorney is filed, and the DKPTO's form states that the signature needs no legalisation
LanguageDanish or English; if you file in English, a Danish version of the list of goods must follow within the time limit set by the DKPTO, and you can ask for the proceedings to be conducted in English
Examination scopeFormalities and absolute grounds (distinctiveness, descriptiveness, deception, etc.); earlier marks are only searched and reported in a search report for information, never a ground for refusal
Madrid SystemMember of the Protocol since 13 February 1996; Denmark can be designated through Madrid, and designations extend to Greenland since 11 January 2011 and to the Faroe Islands since 13 April 2016
Multi-class applicationsAllowed; the filing fee includes 1 class, with DKK 240 for the 2nd class and DKK 720 for each class from the 3rd
Examination time (published by the DKPTO)Examination completed about 6 weeks after payment
Opposition period (statutory)2 months from publication of the application; publication and opposition come before registration; opposition fee DKK 3,000
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date; renewal from 6 months before expiry, or within 6 months after expiry with a 20% surcharge
Non-use (statutory)Liable to revocation if not put to genuine use within 5 years after the registration procedure is completed, or if use is suspended for 5 consecutive years; anyone can request administrative revocation before the DKPTO (fee DKK 3,000)
Filing feeDKK 2,400 including 1 class, DKK 240 for the 2nd class and DKK 720 for each class from the 3rd (in force since 1 January 2026)

Checked on 2026-10-15; general information only — the office's published rules and fees prevail.

Which route

A Danish trademark or an EU trademark

Denmark is an EU member state: a Danish trademark filed with the DKPTO and an EU trademark filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) both give protection in Denmark, and the two can coexist. They differ in coverage, fees, examination and risk; see EU trademark registration.

If you already have a home application or registration, you can also designate Denmark or the EU through the Madrid System. For designations of Denmark, the DKPTO likewise examines only absolute grounds and issues a search report, and the designation can be opposed within 2 months of publication; the DKPTO must notify WIPO of any provisional refusal within 18 months, but a refusal resulting from an opposition may come later than 18 months.

ItemDanish application (DKPTO)EU trademark (EUIPO)
CoverageThe whole of Denmark, extended to Greenland and the Faroe IslandsAll 27 member states (including Denmark); it can only be registered and maintained as a whole; Greenland and the Faroe Islands are not covered
Filing feesDKK 2,400 including 1 class, DKK 240 for the 2nd class and DKK 720 for each class from the 3rd, paid to the DKPTOEUR 850 including 1 class, EUR 50 for the 2nd class and EUR 150 for each class from the 3rd, paid to the EUIPO
Examination and oppositionAbsolute grounds only, with earlier marks flagged in a search report; the application is published and registered only if no opposition is filed within 2 monthsAbsolute grounds only; published first, and registered only if no opposition is filed within the 3-month period
Examination timeAbout 6 weeks after payment (published by the DKPTO)As published by the EUIPO; see the EU trademark page
LanguageDanish or English; the list of goods must have a Danish versionAny one of the 24 official languages, plus a second language
RepresentationNo agent required; if one acts, a power of attorney without legalisation of the signatureNot required to file; later proceedings require a professional representative in the EEA
Conflict riskOnly earlier rights valid in Denmark matterAn earlier right in any member state, or a descriptive meaning in any official language, affects the whole application
Best forDenmark is your main market; you need Greenland or the Faroe Islands; the mark may be descriptive or conflict in another EU language; a limited budgetYou plan to enter several EU countries and want a single registration to manage

The two can be combined: file in Denmark first to secure a filing date, then claim its priority for an EU trademark within 6 months; if an EU trademark application is refused, it can be converted into a Danish application under EU rules, keeping the original filing date.

For a Madrid designation of Denmark, the international registration follows the fate of the home application or registration for 5 years; if it is cancelled, you can apply to the DKPTO within 3 months to transform it into a Danish national application (fee DKK 1,800). Not sure? Run a free search first, then submit an order online; the agent will recommend a route based on the search results.

What to prepare

Documents checklist

For a Danish trademark application to the DKPTO, applicants based abroad usually prepare the following information and documents. The DKPTO recommends filing online.

Applicant

  • Name (for a company, its registered legal name) and postal address; if several addresses are given, only the first counts
  • Any individual or legal entity that uses or intends to use the mark in business can apply

Agent and power of attorney

  • No Danish agent is required; if an agent files for you, file the power of attorney with the application, stating the agent's name and address
  • The DKPTO provides a Danish-English power of attorney form for foreign applicants, which states that the applicant's signature needs no legalisation; other signed documents are provided following the agent's instructions

The mark

  • State the type of mark (word, figurative, three-dimensional, position, pattern, colour, sound, motion, multimedia, etc.) and file a matching representation; a description may be added but cannot extend the scope of protection
  • A black-and-white or greyscale representation with no colour claim is treated as a mark without colour
  • One application can cover only one mark

Goods and services

  • List them by Nice class in clear, specific terms, with class numbers in ascending order; general terms such as class headings can be used where they are clear enough
  • The DKPTO takes part in the EU-wide TMclass database, from which accepted terms can be chosen; English terms can be looked up first in the EU trademark classification table on this site
  • The application and attachments can be in Danish or English; if filed in English, a Danish version of the list of goods must be filed within the time limit set by the DKPTO, and a 2-month extension can be requested; if it is not filed in time, the application is refused

Priority

  • Earlier application filed abroad: priority can be claimed within 6 months and must be claimed in the application itself; it cannot be added after filing
  • State the date, country and number of the earlier application no later than 1 month after the filing date; the DKPTO may require a copy of the earlier application within a time limit it sets, failing which priority is lost

The DKPTO starts examination only once the filing fee has been received. On filing, you can ask the DKPTO not to issue a search report, or pay an extra DKK 840 for a detailed explanation of the search report.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: an online application with no opposition.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search Danish marks, EU trademarks and international registrations designating Denmark; the DKPTO will not refuse over an earlier mark, but it can become the basis of an opposition

  2. Step 2

    Filing and payment

    File online and receive an application number; the DKPTO starts examination only after the filing fee is received (statutory)

  3. Step 3

    Formalities and absolute grounds; search report

    About 6 weeks after payment (published by the DKPTO); if there are issues, the DKPTO sends a notice with a time limit for reply, and a 2-month extension can be requested (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Publication of the application; opposition period

    Once the time limit for replying to the search report has passed and there are no grounds for refusal, the application is published; within 2 months of publication, owners of earlier rights can oppose (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Registration and publication

    If no opposition is filed, or once opposition proceedings end, the DKPTO registers the mark and publishes the registration; the term runs 10 years from the filing date

The DKPTO publishes no average time from filing to registration, only the examination time of about 6 weeks. If an opposition is filed and both parties ask jointly for time to settle, the DKPTO suspends proceedings for at least 2 months (statutory); a DKPTO decision can be appealed within 2 months of notification to the Board of Appeal for Patents and Trademarks (fee DKK 4,000).

How to read the periods: "statutory" = set by law; "official statistics" = averages published by the office; "estimate" = typical cases. Actual timing varies.

How much

Official fees

Danish filing fees are charged per application (including 1 class), plus the 2nd class and each class from the 3rd, and are paid on filing; there is no separate registration or publication fee. The current rates are set by Act No. 1753 of 2025 and have applied since 1 January 2026; fees paid on time are not refunded. The table below shows the current fees published by the DKPTO.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Filing fee (first class included)Per application2,400 DKK≈ USD 361
Filing: second classSecond class240 DKK≈ USD 36
Filing: each class from the thirdEach class from the third720 DKK≈ USD 108
Payable when applicable
Reasoned search report (optional, requested at filing)Per application840 DKK≈ USD 126
Keeping the registration
Renewal fee (every 10 years, first class included; renewals due on or after 1 July 2026)Per application2,400 DKK≈ USD 361
Renewal: second classSecond class240 DKK≈ USD 36
Renewal: each class from the thirdEach class from the third720 DKK≈ USD 108
Other
Division (per divisional application or registration)Per application2,400 DKK≈ USD 361
Opposition (basic fee)Per application3,000 DKK≈ USD 451
Administrative revocation or invalidation (basic fee)Per application3,000 DKK≈ USD 451
Appeal to the Board of Appeal for Patents and Trademarks (basic fee)Per application4,000 DKK≈ USD 601

Source: DKPTO Danish Patent and Trademark Office, Prices and fees · current fees in force since 2026-07-01 · checked on 2026-10-15 · USD figures are approximate, converted at the Bank of China spot selling rate (or, for currencies it does not quote, at the central bank's published USD rate); the official fee is the amount in the original currency

Official fees are as published by the office; the service fee is quoted by an agent after you submit, and you pay only after accepting the quote.

Example: an application covering 3 classes costs DKK 2,400 + DKK 240 + DKK 720 = DKK 3,360 in official fees; 1 class costs DKK 2,400; 5 classes cost DKK 2,400 + DKK 240 + 3 × DKK 720 = DKK 4,800.

On filing, you can pay an extra DKK 840 for a detailed explanation of the DKPTO's search report; an opponent pays DKK 3,000 to the DKPTO to oppose your application. Renewal costs the same as filing (the new rates apply to renewals falling due on or after 1 July 2026), with a 20% surcharge for late renewal within 6 months after expiry.

Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

Watch out

Rules specific to Denmark and common refusals

These are the most common issues in Danish applications, along with Danish-specific rules that are easy to overlook.

The search report is for information only; earlier marks are dealt with through opposition

The DKPTO searches earlier marks valid in Denmark (Danish marks, EU trademarks and international registrations designating Denmark) and sends you a search report, but this is only a notice: it never refuses on that basis, and if you do not reply, or confirm that you maintain the application, the procedure simply continues. The real risk comes after publication: owners of earlier rights can oppose, and before publication anyone can submit observations on absolute grounds. Searching before you file costs less than amending after an opposition.

The opposition period is only 2 months, and it comes before registration

Since 2019 Denmark publishes the application first, hears oppositions and only then registers: within 2 months of publication of the application, oppositions can be filed, and the mark is entered in the register only if none is filed. For you, this means that by the time you receive the certificate the opposition period has already passed, so the registration is relatively stable; conversely, if you want to stop someone else's Danish application, you also have only a 2-month window, after which you can only seek revocation or invalidity.

Unregistered marks used on more than a local scale are protected too

Danish trademark rights can be acquired by registration, but also through continuous use in Denmark on more than a local scale, and unregistered marks well known in Denmark are protected as well. All of these owners can oppose or seek invalidity, so a search cannot stop at the register: check names already in use on the market too.

The list of goods must end up in Danish

The application and attachments can be filed in English, and the DKPTO accepts proceedings conducted in English, but a Danish version of the list of goods or services must be filed within the time limit set by the DKPTO; one extension of up to 2 months can be requested, and if the Danish list is not filed in time, the application is refused. Choosing accepted terms from TMclass reduces the back and forth.

To cover Greenland and the Faroe Islands, an EU trademark is not enough

A Danish registration is extended by royal decree to Greenland and the Faroe Islands, and an international registration designating Denmark also covers both. Greenland is an overseas territory associated with the EU and the EU treaties do not apply to the Faroe Islands, so neither is in the EU and EU trademarks have no effect there. If your goods are sold in either, file a Danish trademark or designate Denmark.

Priority must be claimed on filing, and fees are not refunded

To claim priority from an earlier application filed abroad, file in Denmark within 6 months and claim it in the application; it cannot be added later, and the date, country and number of the earlier application must be given no later than 1 month after the filing date. Fees paid on time are never refunded, even if the application is refused or withdrawn.

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After registration

Keeping the registration

A Danish registration needs no periodic declarations of use, but a mark that is not used can be revoked. Renewal only requires paying the fee on time; the DKPTO sends a reminder no later than 6 months before expiry but accepts no liability if it does not.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
From 5 years after the registration procedure is completedKeep using the mark genuinely in Denmark and keep evidence; if it is not used within 5 years, or use is suspended for 5 consecutive years, anyone can request administrative revocation before the DKPTO or revocation by the courtsNone (a third party requesting administrative revocation pays DKK 3,000)
Within the 6 months before expiry (10 years from the filing date), then every 10 yearsPay the renewal fee; payment itself counts as the renewal request. To renew only some of the goods, state the scopeDKK 2,400 including 1 class, DKK 240 for the 2nd class and DKK 720 for each class from the 3rd (renewals due on or after 1 July 2026)
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewal; after that, the registration is cancelledRenewal fee plus 20%
If someone opposes or seeks revocationIf the other side's mark has been registered for at least 5 years, you can require proof of its use in Denmark during the last 5 years; a DKPTO decision can be appealed within 2 months to the Board of Appeal for Patents and TrademarksAppeal DKK 4,000

Once registered, you can file an application for customs action with Danish customs under Regulation (EU) No 608/2013, asking customs to detain suspected infringing goods at import or export; since 3 October 2024 it must be filed electronically through the EUIPO's IP Enforcement Portal, and on the basis of an EU trademark one application can cover several member states. E-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Denmark

How much does a Danish trademark cost?

The DKPTO's official fee is paid once, on filing: DKK 2,400 including 1 class, DKK 240 for the 2nd class and DKK 720 for each class from the 3rd, at the rates in force since 1 January 2026. For example, 3 classes cost DKK 3,360 and 5 classes DKK 4,800. Renewal costs the same as filing. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does Danish trademark registration take?

The DKPTO's published time is about 6 weeks from payment to the end of examination. The application is then published, and a 2-month opposition period (statutory) follows; if nobody opposes, the mark is registered. A smooth case therefore takes roughly three to four months from filing to registration, which is an estimate based on these periods; the DKPTO publishes no overall average, and cases with objections or oppositions take considerably longer.

I already have an EU trademark. Do I also need a Danish trademark?

An EU trademark is valid in Denmark, so you normally do not need to register the same mark again. A separate Danish filing usually makes sense for three reasons: your goods are sold in Greenland or the Faroe Islands (neither is in the EU, and EU trademarks have no effect there); you only target the Danish market and want lower fees; or the mark may be descriptive or conflict in another EU language. A refused EU trademark application can also be converted into a Danish application keeping the original filing date; see EU trademark registration.

Do foreign applicants need a Danish agent? Can I file in English?

The DKPTO expressly does not require foreign applicants to appoint a representative. The application and attachments can be filed in English, and you can ask for the proceedings to be conducted in English, but a Danish version of the list of goods or services must be filed within the time limit set. If an agent acts for you, a power of attorney is filed with the application; the DKPTO's form states that the signature needs no legalisation.

What if my Danish application is opposed after publication?

Within 2 months of publication, owners of earlier marks valid in Denmark, of unregistered marks used on more than a local scale and of other earlier rights can oppose. Start by checking the opponent's basis and the goods involved: if the opposing mark has been registered for at least 5 years, you can require proof of genuine use in Denmark during the last 5 years, and without it the opposition fails. If both parties ask jointly for time to settle, the DKPTO suspends proceedings for at least 2 months. An opposition decision can be appealed within 2 months to the Board of Appeal for Patents and Trademarks.

How often must a Danish trademark be renewed?

Every 10 years; the registration expires 10 years from the filing date. The renewal fee can be paid from 6 months before expiry, and payment itself counts as the renewal request; within 6 months after expiry you can still renew with a 20% surcharge, after which the registration is cancelled. For renewals due on or after 1 July 2026, the fee is the same as the filing fee: DKK 2,400 including 1 class, DKK 240 for the 2nd class and DKK 720 for each class from the 3rd.

Other IP rights

Patents: Danish patents are granted by the DKPTO and last up to 20 years from the filing date; you can enter the Danish national phase of a PCT application (Denmark has been a PCT member since 1 December 1978) or validate in Denmark a European patent granted by the European Patent Office (Denmark has been party to the European Patent Convention since 1 January 1990). Utility models (brugsmodel) run for an initial 3 years and can be renewed twice (3 and 4 years), up to 10 years in total.

Designs: registered designs are protected in 5-year periods from the filing date, renewable up to a maximum of 25 years; Denmark can also be designated through the Hague Agreement (since 9 December 2008, likewise extending to Greenland and the Faroe Islands), or you can apply for an EU design valid throughout the EU.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

Sweden　·　Norway　·　Germany　·　European Union Intellectual Property Office　·　United Kingdom

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Order online · Denmark trademark registration

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