EU News (European Union) | International Data (Statistics)

    In 2025, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) received a total of 327,735 new applications for EU trademarks and EU designs. This represents the highest annual record for intellectual property filings since the agency began accepting applications in 1996.

    Overall, the volume of filings increased by 7.8% compared to 2024, surpassing the previous historical record set in 2021 (which saw 313,928 applications).

    Trademarks Lead Overall Growth

    European Union Trade Marks (EUTM) accounted for the largest share of total filings in 2025. The EUIPO received 196,886 EUTM applications, representing a 9.1% increase over 2024.

    Applicants from EU Member States drove this growth, with their filing volume rising by 9.4%. Collectively, the 27 EU countries accounted for over 57.5% of total EUTM filings, with Germany (12.7%), Italy (6.9%), and Spain (6.4%) being the most active.

    Regarding regions outside the EU, filings from China continued to grow, with an increase of 13.3% (accounting for nearly 16% of total EUTM applications). The United States (9%) and the United Kingdom (4.2%) rounded out the top three sources of applications.

    In terms of goods and services sectors, "Advertising and Business Management," "Electrical Equipment," and "Technical Services" were the primary filing categories, followed by "Education and Sporting Activities" and "Clothing and Footwear."

    These trends collectively attest to the sustained importance of the EU trademark system for businesses both within and outside the European Union.

    Design Filings Reach Historic Peak

    Demand for EU Designs (EUD) continued to climb in 2025. The EUIPO received 130,849 design applications, a year-on-year increase of 6%, marking the second consecutive year of record-breaking figures.

    For the first time, filings from non-EU regions became predominant, accounting for 52% of total EU design applications.

    China emerged as the largest source of applications in 2025, with filing volume growing by 18.4% (representing 29.9% of total EU design applications), followed closely by the United Kingdom (+17.8%) and the United States (+8.4%). These figures highlight the growing international influence of the EU design system.

    Within the EU, filing volumes were led by Germany (13.4%), followed by Italy (10.5%), Poland (4.2%), France (4%), and Spain (3.4%).

    EUIPO Gains New Authority for Craft and Industrial Geographical Indications

    In December 2025, the EUIPO officially began accepting applications for Craft and Industrial Geographical Indications (CIGI), marking a significant expansion of the agency's mandate.

    In the first week of launch, 45 CIGI applications were received, primarily involving two major product categories: stone minerals and textiles.

    The new system is designed to support local value creation and enhance the competitiveness of various regions within the EU.

    Looking Ahead

    These achievements lay a solid foundation for the second year of implementing the EUIPO’s Strategic Plan 2030.

    The sustained growth in filing volumes indicates that global businesses, innovators, and creators continue to invest in protection through the EU intellectual property system.

    The record-breaking filing data of 2025 validates the trust placed in the EUIPO by all stakeholders, as well as the agency's role in supporting a modern, resilient, and inclusive European innovation ecosystem.

Source:China Protection of Intellectual Property Network (IPR.GOV.CN)