Trademarks in Greece

Competent Authority & System

Official Authority: Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI / O.B.I.) – Trademarks Directorate / Οργανισμός Βιομηχανικής Ιδιοκτησίας.

Official Language: Greek.

System: National IP system. As an EU Member State, protection in Greece can also be obtained via European Union Trademarks (EUTM) administered by the EUIPO.

International Treaties

Madrid System: Member of both the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol. Greece can be designated in international applications via WIPO.

Paris Convention: Member state; convention priority can be claimed within 6 months from the initial priority filing date.

Applicant & Representation Requirements

Entitlement: Both natural persons and legal entities (domestic or foreign) are eligible to apply.

Representation for Foreign Applicants: Foreign applicants established outside the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) must appoint a local representative/representative registered to practice in Greece.

Power of Attorney (POA): Required. A simple signed Power of Attorney is accepted; notarization or Legalization/Apostille is not required unless requested under specific doubts.

Online Services & Database

E-Filing: E-filing is fully operational through the official Hellenic OBI e-services portal.

Free Trademark Search Database: Public searches are accessible free of charge via the official OBI digital search register, as well as TMview, EUIPO eSearch plus, and the WIPO Global Brand Database.

Registrable Mark Types

Types: Words, figurative/logos, slogans, 3D shapes/packaging, color marks, sound (audio file or score), motion, multimedia, pattern, and position marks capable of clear visual or digital representation in the register.

Foreign Characters & Translation: Signs containing non-Greek or non-Latin scripts must include a transliteration into the Latin/Greek alphabet and a translation into Greek.

Classification Framework

Nice Classification: Uses the active edition of the Nice Classification.

Multi-class Filings: Permitted under a single application.

Class Headings: Accepted, provided they conform to standard EU common practice (IP TRANSLATED principles) for clarity and precision.

Examination Process

Examination Scope:

Formal & Absolute Grounds: Examined ex officio by OBI (distinctiveness, descriptiveness, genericness, public order, deceptive signs).

Relative Grounds: OBI conducts substantive ex officio examination for relative grounds (earlier conflicting identical or confusingly similar marks). If a conflict is found, a provisional refusal is issued, though rights can still be challenged or defended in opposition.

Office Action Deadlines: Standard response time for deficiency letters or provisional refusal notices is typically 1 month (or up to 2 months depending on the procedural type) from official notification.

Publication & Opposition

Opposition Window: 3 months starting from the publication date of the application/acceptance decision in the official publication portal.

Standing: Owners of earlier registered national or EU trademarks, pending applications with earlier priority, or well-known marks under Article 6bis of the Paris Convention.

Timeline & Expedited Examination

Average Timeframe: Approximately 5 to 8 months from filing to registration in smooth cases without third-party oppositions or office actions.

Expedited Examination: Fast-track processing is not standardly offered as a separate commercial track, though online filings move faster through digital workflows.

Official Fees

Official statutory fees at OBI (Law 4679/2020 framework):

Base Application Fee (Online Filing - 1st Class): €100.

Base Application Fee (Paper Filing - 1st Class): €120.

Additional Class Fee (Online or Paper): €20 per class exceeding the 1st.

Standard Renewal Fee (Online Filing - 1st Class): €90.

Standard Renewal Fee (Paper Filing - 1st Class): €110.

Renewal Additional Class Fee: €20 per class exceeding the 1st.

Grace Period Late Renewal Surcharge: Additional 50% of the renewal fee.

Duration & Renewal

Validity Period: 10 years calculated from the filing date.

Renewal Duration: Renewable indefinitely for consecutive 10-year terms. Renewal requests can be submitted up to 6 months prior to expiration (or 12 months in practice depending on portal windows).

Grace Period: A 6-month grace period post-expiration is allowed for late renewal, subject to a 50% late fee surcharge.

Use Requirements & Priority System

Priority System: First-to-file system.

Non-Use Cancellation: A registered trademark becomes subject to revocation on non-use grounds if it is not put to genuine commercial use in Greece for a continuous period of 5 years post-registration.

Declaration of Use: No periodic maintenance declarations or affidavits of use are required during routine renewals.

Post-Registration Transactions

Recordals: Rights assignments, licensing agreements, pledges, and changes of corporate details (name/address) must be officially registered with OBI to be effective against third parties.

Legal Remedies & Enforcement

Cancellation & Invalidity: Non-use revocation actions and relative/absolute invalidity claims are examined administratively by the Administrative Trademark Committee / OBI or brought before specialized administrative and civil courts.

Customs Enforcement: Brand owners can submit border detention applications with Greek Customs under EU Customs Regulation (EU) No 608/2013 to intercept counterfeit or infringing goods at the border.

Country-Specific Risks & Practical Insights

Cost Advantage for Additional Classes: Greece offers one of the lowest per-class additional fees in the EU (€20 per additional class), making multi-class applications highly economical.

Discount for E-Filing: Filing online via the OBI portal reduces the base filing fee from €120 down to €100.

Ex Officio Relative Search: OBI conducts relative grounds examination during ex officio application review, providing proactive protection against identical/confusingly similar prior filings.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or consultation. To receive personalized and in-depth guidance tailored to your specific situation, we invite you to schedule a consultation.

Greece is also covered by the EU trade mark, which protects a mark in all EU member countries with one filing. See regional systems.