Skip to main content
Country trademark guide · Updated

Trademark registration in Italy

To register a trademark in Italy, file with the Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM), apply for an EU trademark or designate Italy through Madrid. The UIBM does not search earlier marks: their owners must oppose within 3 months of publication. You need an address for service in the EU or the EEA.

Order online · Italy trademark registration

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.

Start your order (Italy selected) Get a trademark search report first
Trademark registration in Italy

Five questions first

Which route?File with the UIBM if Italy is your only main market, for low official fees; apply for an EU trademark to enter several EU countries; with a home application or registration, you can also designate Italy through Madrid.Details ↓What do I need?The applicant's name and address, an address for service in the EU or the EEA, the mark (foreign words with an Italian translation) and a clear list of goods or services.Details ↓How are official fees charged?Filing fee EUR 101 including 1 class, plus EUR 34 for each additional class; online filings also pay EUR 48 stamp duty. Service fees are quoted after you submit the order.Details ↓How long does it take?Statutory processing time limit of 180 days, excluding the 3-month opposition period and response periods; with no objections and no opposition, registration within about 9 months (estimate).Details ↓What are the main risks?The UIBM does not check earlier marks, so oppositions or invalidity actions can come before or after registration; foreign wording such as Chinese needs a translation; the address for service must be in the EU or the EEA.Details ↓
Key facts

Trademarks in Italy: key facts

OfficeItalian Patent and Trademark Office (Ufficio Italiano Brevetti e Marchi, UIBM), the Directorate-General for Industrial Property of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT). Website and search links: IP Toolbox.
LawIndustrial Property Code (Codice della proprietà industriale, Legislative Decree No. 30/2005)
Other routesEU trademarks cover Italy; Italy has been a party to the Madrid Protocol since 17 April 2000 and can be designated through Madrid
Address for serviceEvery application must give an address for service in an EU or EEA member state; the law does not require you to appoint a representative
RepresentativesIf you use a representative, it must be an attorney on the Italian register of industrial property attorneys or a practising lawyer
LanguageItalian; foreign words in the mark need an Italian translation, and non-Latin characters a transliteration
Examination scopeThe UIBM does not search earlier marks; it examines only whether the sign can be registered as a trademark (distinctiveness, descriptiveness, etc.), and conflicts with earlier marks are raised by their owners through opposition
Multi-class applicationsAllowed; official fees are charged per application including the first class, plus each additional class; classes cannot be added after filing
Processing time limit (statutory)180 days, not counting periods of suspension such as the opposition period after publication or the time to respond to objections
Response to objections (statutory)The UIBM sets a time limit of at least 2 months
Opposition period (statutory)3 months from publication
Term and renewal10 years from the filing date, expiring on the last day of the month of filing; renew within 12 months before expiry, or for an extra fee within 6 months after expiry
Non-use (statutory)Liable to revocation if not put to genuine use in Italy within 5 years of registration, or if use is suspended for 5 consecutive years
Filing feeEUR 101 including 1 class, EUR 34 for each additional class; online filings also pay EUR 48 stamp duty (since 23 August 2023)

Checked on 2026-10-06; general information only — the office's published rules and fees prevail.

Which route

A national application or an EU trademark

Trademark protection in Italy can come from three routes: a national application to the UIBM, an EU trademark application to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), with one registration covering all 27 member states, or a designation of Italy or the EU in a Madrid international application. The table compares the first two; for details of EU trademarks, see EU trademark registration.

ItemNational application (UIBM)EU trademark (EUIPO)
CoverageItaly onlyAll 27 member states (including Italy); registered and maintained only as a whole
Official feesEUR 101 including 1 class, EUR 34 for each additional class, plus EUR 48 stamp duty for online filingEUR 850 including 1 class, EUR 50 for the 2nd class and EUR 150 for each class from the 3rd
LanguageItalian; foreign words in the mark need an Italian translationFile in any of the 24 official languages and choose a second language
Refusal riskOnly registrability in Italy countsA ground for refusal in any member state or any official language leads to refusal of the whole application
Opposition3 months from publication, by owners of earlier rights valid in Italy3 months from publication, by owners of earlier rights in any member state
Representation and serviceAn address for service in the EU or the EEA is required; a representative is optionalAll proceedings other than filing require a professional representative in the EEA
Use requirementGenuine use in Italy within 5 years of registrationGenuine use in the EU within 5 years of registration, assessed across the EU as a whole
Best forItaly is your main market; a limited budget; the meaning of the mark is risky in other EU languagesYou are entering several member states at once and want one registration to manage

The Madrid route: with a home application or registration, you can designate Italy or the EU in an international application. For designations of Italy, if your office of origin is party to both the Madrid Agreement and the Protocol (e.g. China), the UIBM must notify any provisional refusal within 12 months; from other offices of origin, within the 18 months Italy has declared; in either case a provisional refusal must be answered through a representative registered in Italy. If your basic application or registration is refused or cancelled within 5 years, the international registration falls with it.

A refused EU trademark application can be converted, within the set time limit, into national applications in member states such as Italy where there is no ground for refusal, keeping the original filing date. 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 national application to the UIBM, prepare the following information and documents.

Applicant

  • Name (for a company, its full legal name as registered)
  • Address; individuals, companies and other organisations of any nationality can apply

Address for service

  • An address for service in an EU or EEA member state, to which all UIBM notices are sent; without one, the application is not accepted
  • If the address for service is at a company or a professional's office, an Italian certified email address (PEC) is also needed; if you use a representative, the representative provides it

The mark

  • A representation of the mark: word marks need one too
  • Foreign words need an Italian translation; Chinese or other non-Latin characters need a transliteration
  • Marks containing another person's name or portrait, a well-known sign or an emblem need the holder's consent or authorisation

Goods and services

  • List them by Nice class; the UIBM recommends using the standard Nice terms wherever possible, described clearly and specifically
  • Wording that states the purpose, origin or end user is not allowed; classes cannot be added after filing

Priority and power of attorney

  • Earlier application filed abroad: priority can be claimed within 6 months; the priority document, with an Italian translation, can be filed up to 2 months after the application
  • If you use a representative, the power of attorney is signed and dated by you and the representative; no notarisation is needed

If you choose an EU trademark instead, you can look up the wording of goods and services in EU trademark classification table.

How long

Process and timeline

Example: a direct online application with no opposition.

  1. Step 1

    Clearance search (recommended)

    Search Italian marks, EU trademarks and international registrations designating Italy, and check the meaning of the mark in Italian

  2. Step 2

    Filing and payment

    File online; the date of payment is the filing date

  3. Step 3

    Formalities and substantive examination

    Applications are examined in order of filing, without a search of earlier marks; objections are sent where there are issues, with at least 2 months to respond (statutory)

  4. Step 4

    Publication

    Registrable applications are published in the Trade Marks Bulletin; 3-month opposition period (statutory)

  5. Step 5

    Opposition (if any)

    After the UIBM notifies both parties, a 2-month cooling-off period applies first, which the parties can jointly ask to extend (statutory)

  6. Step 6

    Registration

    With no opposition, the mark is registered and an electronic certificate is sent to the email address given in the application; about 9 months, based on the statutory time limit (estimate)

The statutory processing time limit is 180 days, excluding the 3-month opposition period after publication and the time taken to respond to objections. The UIBM does not publish average examination times, so "about 9 months" is an estimate based on the statutory limit. Objections or oppositions make the process considerably longer.

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

Official fees are charged per application (including the first class) plus each additional class, paid in full on filing; there is no separate registration fee. Online filings also pay a fixed stamp duty of EUR 48 per application (since 23 August 2023). The table below shows the current fees published by the UIBM.

ItemChargedAmountApprox. USD
Paid on filing
Filing fee (first class included)Per application101 EUR≈ USD 113
Each additional classEach additional class34 EUR≈ USD 38
Stamp duty (online filing, flat rate per application)Per application48 EUR≈ USD 54
Payable when applicable
Government concession tax on the letter of appointment (when an agent is appointed)Per application34 EUR≈ USD 38
Keeping the registration
Renewal (every 10 years, first class included)Per application67 EUR≈ USD 75
Renewal: each additional classEach additional class34 EUR≈ USD 38
Late renewal surcharge (within 6 months after expiry, on top of the renewal fee)Per application34 EUR≈ USD 38
Other
Recording a transfer, licence or other deed (per deed; online filing also incurs EUR 80 stamp duty)Per application81 EUR≈ USD 91

Source: UIBM Tariffe Marchi · current fees in force since 2023-08-23 · checked on 2026-10-07 · 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.

Need to register a trademark in Italy?

Get a quoteInternational Trademark Strategy

Example: an online application covering 3 classes costs EUR 101 + 2 × EUR 34 = EUR 169 in official fees, plus EUR 48 stamp duty: EUR 217 in total on filing.

If you file through a representative, the power of attorney carries a further EUR 34 government concession tax.

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

Watch out

Rules specific to Italy and common refusals

These are common issues in Italian examination and registration, along with Italian-specific rules that are easy to overlook.

The UIBM does not check earlier marks

The UIBM does not search earlier marks during examination, so similar marks are not stopped at that stage. Owners of earlier registrations or applications can oppose within 3 months of publication, and after registration others can still ask the UIBM or the courts to declare it invalid. Searching before you file costs less than being opposed or invalidated after registration.

Well-known earlier signs in use can block registration

Unregistered marks, company names, domain names and other signs used earlier by someone else and known beyond a purely local level destroy the novelty of an identical or similar application, and their owner can ask the courts to declare the registration invalid; a prior user whose sign is known only locally can keep using it within its existing scope.

Foreign words need an Italian translation

Foreign words in the mark need an Italian translation, and Chinese or other non-Latin characters a transliteration. The examiner uses these to judge whether the mark directly describes the goods, so assess the meaning of a mark in Chinese or another language in advance.

Address for service and representative restrictions

Every application must give an address for service in the EU or the EEA. A representative can only be an attorney on the Italian register of industrial property attorneys or a practising lawyer. A provisional refusal of a Madrid designation of Italy must be answered through such a representative, or it becomes final.

Settle the goods and classes at the outset

Goods or services must be described clearly and specifically, without stating their purpose, origin or end user; classes cannot be added after filing, and on renewal they can only be reduced. To broaden the scope, you have to file a new application.

Get a trademark search report: can your mark be registered in Italy?

Sign in, enter the mark and goods and submit a preliminary search; charged per search, with the report delivered to your account and email.

Get a search report
After registration

Keeping the registration

An Italian registration needs no periodic declarations of use, but a mark that is not used can be revoked; if the renewal grace period is missed, the only option is a new application.

WhenWhat to doOfficial fee
From 5 years after registrationKeep using the mark genuinely in Italy and keep evidence; after 5 years of non-use, third parties can seek revocation before the UIBM or the courtsNone
Within 12 months before expiry (the last day of the month of filing), then every 10 yearsRenew; the mark must be identical to the registered one, and classes or goods can only be removedEUR 67 including 1 class, EUR 34 for each additional class
Within 6 months after expiryLate renewal with a surcharge; after that, only a new application is possibleLate fee of EUR 34
Any timeRecord assignments, licences and other transactions (not mandatory, but an unrecorded assignment cannot be relied on against third parties who have acquired rights)EUR 81 per recording, plus EUR 80 stamp duty for online filing

Once registered, you can file an application for action with Italian customs under Regulation (EU) No 608/2013, asking them to detain suspected infringing goods at import or export; on the basis of an EU trademark, a Union application covering several member states is also possible. E-commerce brand registries usually also require a registered or pending trademark.

FAQ

Trademark registration in Italy

How much does an Italian trademark cost?

The UIBM's official fees are EUR 101 for the application, including 1 class, plus EUR 34 for each additional class; online filings also pay EUR 48 stamp duty. For example, 3 classes cost EUR 217 in total, plus EUR 34 government concession tax on the power of attorney if you use a representative. Service fees are quoted by the agent after you submit the order; you pay only after accepting the quote.

How long does Italian trademark registration take?

The statutory processing time limit is 180 days, excluding the 3-month opposition period after publication and the time taken to respond to objections. With no objections and no opposition, registration comes within about 9 months based on that limit (estimate); the UIBM does not publish average examination times. Opposed applications take considerably longer.

I already have an EU trademark. Do I also need an Italian trademark?

An EU trademark is valid in Italy, so there is no need to register again. A separate Italian filing usually comes down to one of three reasons: a limited budget and a focus on Italy alone; a risk that the mark is descriptive in another EU language; or the wish for a registration that does not depend on the fate of the EU trademark as a whole. A refused EU trademark application can also be converted into an Italian national application, keeping the original filing date; see EU trademark registration.

Do I need an Italian address or representative?

You need an address for service in an EU or EEA member state, not necessarily in Italy, and the law does not require a representative; if an Italian registered industrial property attorney acts for you, the attorney provides the address for service. For a Madrid designation of Italy, a provisional refusal must be answered through a representative registered in Italy. The power of attorney needs no notarisation.

What should I watch for with a mark in Chinese characters?

Chinese characters need a transliteration (such as Pinyin) and, if they have a meaning, an Italian translation, which can go in the notes field of the application form or on a separate sheet. The examiner uses these to judge whether the mark directly describes the goods, so check before filing that neither the meaning nor the transliteration has a negative or descriptive sense in Italian.

How often must an Italian trademark be renewed?

Every 10 years. The registration expires on the last day of the month of filing, and renewal can be filed within the 12 months before expiry; within 6 months after expiry you can still renew by paying a EUR 34 late fee, after which only a new application is possible. The renewal fee is EUR 67 including 1 class, plus EUR 34 for each additional class.

Other IP rights

Patents: patents for inventions last 20 years from the filing date and utility models 10 years. A European patent granted by the European Patent Office can be validated in Italy, and PCT international applications filed since 1 July 2020 can also enter the Italian national phase directly.

Designs: registered designs are protected for 5 years from the filing date, renewable every 5 years up to a maximum of 25 years; you can also apply to the EUIPO for an EU design valid in all member states.

Patent applications are handled through an affiliated patent agency.

Other countries and territories in the region

European Union Intellectual Property Office · France · Spain · Switzerland · Greece · Albania

Downloads

Ready to file?

Order online · Italy trademark registration

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.

Start your order (Italy selected) Get a trademark search report first

Questions first?

Leave your question and an agent will reply.
Have a question? Tell us…
Please enter your name (without web addresses)
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid phone number
Please describe your inquiry (no HTML code or link markup, and at most one web address)
Verification pending or too many submissions, please try again later

Notice: the services described on this page are carried out by locally licensed partner firms; J&C is your point of contact and coordinates and delivers the work. Fees shown are estimates; official fees are those actually charged by the office and the final quote is confirmed by an agent. Examination times are set by each office and the outcome depends on official examination; we make no promise as to results. By submitting an order you agree that the information needed for the work is shared with the relevant partner firm (which may be outside your country). This page is general information, not legal advice.

Terms of Use · Privacy Policy