Logo trademark registration – how to register a logo in Poland and the European Union?
Logo registration is the common term for trademark registration. Only registration with the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) or the EUIPO gives your company exclusive rights to use your logo for selected goods and services, as well as an effective tool against imitators.
We explain how copyright protection differs from trademark protection, how to register your logo step by step, what it costs to file in Poland and the EU, how long the process takes, and what to watch out for after submitting your application.
Designing a logo takes a few weeks. A dispute over a trademark that someone registered before you can last much longer.
Key takeaways
Logo Registration at a Glance
In Poland, two different laws protect your logo. Copyright arises automatically when the design is created, but mainly protects against copying the graphic itself. Trademark protection must be obtained from the office and gives you exclusive rights to use the mark in commerce.
Copyright
It arises automatically and belongs to the designer. The company needs a written agreement transferring economic rights to freely use the logo.
Trademark
It only arises after registration with UPRP or EUIPO. It grants exclusive rights to use the mark for specified goods and services for 10 years, with the option to renew.
Costs
In Poland, PLN 400 for electronic filing in one class, then PLN 400 for protection and PLN 90 for publication. An EU trademark is €850 for one class.
The most important rule:
- first, make sure you have copyright to the logo,
- before filing, check that a similar mark hasn’t already been registered,
- register only those classes of goods and services in which you actually operate or plan to operate.
Basics
Logo Copyright – Where Protection Begins
A logo design is considered a work under copyright law if it has an individual, creative character. Rights arise at the moment of creation and initially belong to the author—the designer—not the company that paid for the project.
If an employee designs a logo as part of their job duties, the employer generally acquires the economic copyright. For external commissions—such as projects from an agency or freelancer—a copyright transfer agreement is required. By law, this agreement must be in writing to be valid, so an invoice or email project approval alone is not sufficient.
A solid copyright transfer agreement for a logo:
- lists the fields of exploitation, as it only covers those explicitly stated, e.g., reproduction and duplication, online publication, distribution, and trademark registration,
- allows for modifications and adaptations of the design, meaning it includes so-called derivative rights,
- specifies when the rights are transferred to the company, e.g., upon payment of the fee,
- includes the author’s commitment not to exercise moral rights in a way that would hinder the use of the logo.
Copyright transfer is included as standard in every one of our logo packages. To see what else is covered in the project price, check out our article how much does a company logo cost.
Registration
Trademark – What Does Registering a Logo Give You?
Registering a trademark gives you the exclusive right to use it in commerce for the goods and services specified in the application. The owner can prohibit others from using an identical or similar mark if it could mislead customers, and a registered trademark is easier to defend in a dispute than copyright alone.
What a registered trademark provides:
- exclusive rights to use the logo in trade within selected classes of goods and services,
- a basis for action against imitators, including online and on sales platforms,
- the right to mark your logo with the ® symbol,
- an asset you can sell or license, e.g., in a franchise.
Wordmark, word-and-design, or design mark?
Wordmark
Just the name written in plain text. It’s protected regardless of font or color, so for a distinctive name in the market, this often offers the broadest protection.
Word-and-design mark
A logo with the name in a specific graphic form. The whole is protected, but if you make a significant change to the logo’s appearance, you’ll need to file a new application.
Design mark
Just the symbol, without text. Useful when the icon is meant to stand alone, e.g., on packaging, apparel, or in an app.
Companies with smaller budgets often start with a wordmark, then register the logo once its form is established for the long term. We explain the differences between a typographic name and a symbol in our guide logo vs. logotype.
Procedure
How to trademark your logo step by step?
You can file a trademark application yourself, without intermediaries. The most important part is preparation—what you do before filling out the application.
Check the rights
Make sure you have a written transfer of economic copyright to the logo. Without it, the author may later challenge the registration.
Search for similar marks
Search the UPRP and EUIPO databases or use the TMview search engine, which covers registers from many offices. Also look for similarly sounding names and marks with a similar appearance in your industry.
Choose classes
Goods and services are divided into 45 Nice Classification classes. For a service company, these might include class 35 (advertising and trade), 41 (education), 42 (IT and design services), or 44 (medical and cosmetic services).
Submit your application
In Poland, the easiest way is electronically via the UPRP Electronic Services Platform; in the EU, through the EUIPO website. You attach a file with your logo, a list of goods and services, and pay the fee.
Examination and oppositions
The office reviews your application and publishes it in the bulletin. For 3 months, owners of earlier marks can file an opposition, and UPRP additionally notifies you about similar earlier marks.
Protection fee
In Poland, after the decision to grant protection rights, you pay a fee for the first 10 years of protection and for publication. With EUIPO, protection is already included in the application fee.
Keep track of deadlines
Protection is counted from the filing date and lasts 10 years. You extend it by paying the fee before the protection period ends, and you can do this without limitation.
If you have a valuable brand, are filing in several countries, or are in a dispute with another mark, it’s worth using the help of a patent attorney. They will conduct a search for similar marks, help select the list of goods and services, and handle the case if someone files an opposition.
Scope of protection
Where to register your logo—in Poland, the EU, or worldwide?
A trademark is protected only in the territory of the office where it is registered. It’s worth matching the scope of protection to the markets where your company sells today and plans to sell in the coming years.
UPRP, Poland
The most affordable option for companies operating domestically. Protection covers only Poland, but you can extend priority from the Polish application to other countries within 6 months.
EUIPO, European Union
A single application and one fee for all EU countries. Ideal for online stores and companies that sell abroad or plan to do so.
WIPO, worldwide
The Madrid system allows you to designate multiple non-EU countries, such as the United Kingdom or the United States, with a single application. Fees depend on the countries selected.
Fees
How much does it cost to register a logo in Poland and the EU?
Official fees depend primarily on the number of classes of goods and services. The amounts below are from the UPRP and EUIPO price lists as of October 2026.
| Fee | Polish Patent Office | EUIPO (entire EU) |
|---|---|---|
| Application, first class | PLN 400 online, PLN 450 on paper | €850 online |
| Second class | PLN 120 | €50 |
| Each additional class | PLN 120 | €150 |
| Protection for 10 years | PLN 400 per class, payable after the decision | included in the application fee |
| Publication of rights information | PLN 90 | included in the application fee |
| Extension for another 10 years | PLN 400 per class | same as the application fee |
Example: registering a logo in two classes in Poland costs PLN 520 for the application, then PLN 800 for protection and PLN 90 for publication, totaling PLN 1,410 for 10 years. The same mark in the EUIPO costs €900 for protection across all EU countries.
In addition to official fees, you’ll also pay a patent attorney’s fee if you hire one to conduct a trademark search and prepare your application.
Time
How long does it take to register a logo?
If your application is complete and no one files an objection, the procedure at the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) usually takes about six months, and at the EUIPO a few months. An objection can extend the process by many more months.
However, the protection period starts from the application date, and that date determines priority over later applications from other companies. That’s why it’s best to file before the public launch of a new brand or company rebranding, not several months after.
Security
Beware of fake payment requests
Trademark application data is public, so after filing, many companies receive letters and emails that closely resemble official correspondence. The senders demand payment for entry into a private register, publication in a catalog, or extension of protection—usually for amounts higher than official fees. The Polish Patent Office warns against such letters, including forged decisions.
Before you pay, check:
- whether the account number belongs to the office and matches the one on its official website,
- whether the amount matches the official fee schedule,
- whether the letter concerns your application number and the current stage of your case,
- if in doubt, call the office or your patent attorney.
What to avoid
Most common mistakes when registering a logo
Applications most often fail or offer weak protection for the company when:
- the logo was registered without a written transfer of rights from the designer,
- the name is descriptive, e.g. “Fast Transport,” and the office refuses protection because it doesn’t distinguish your company from others,
- no one checked for similar trademarks before filing,
- the list of goods and services is too narrow or includes classes where the company doesn’t operate,
- a trademark is filed that will be changed anyway during a rebranding in a year,
- the company uses the ® symbol before registration, even though only the TM designation—which has no legal effect—can be used until then.
Remember: this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace legal advice. For important brands, disputes, or filings in multiple countries, consult a patent attorney.
Zaprojektowani • Logo • Copyright
Designing a new logo and want to protect it?
We design original logos with a full set of versions and files, and copyright transfer is standard in every package. Logo design starts from PLN 999.
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions about trademarking a logo
How do I trademark a logo?
Make sure you have a written copyright transfer, check for similar trademarks in the UPRP, EUIPO, or TMview databases, select the appropriate classes of goods and services, and file a trademark application with the Polish Patent Office or EUIPO. After publication, there is a 3-month opposition period, and in Poland, you pay for protection after the decision.
How much does it cost to trademark a logo?
In Poland, electronic filing for one class costs PLN 400, each additional class is PLN 120, and after the decision, you pay PLN 400 per class for 10 years of protection and PLN 90 for publication. An EU trademark at EUIPO costs 850 euros for one class, 50 euros for the second, and 150 euros for each additional class.
How long does it take to register a logo?
Without oppositions or formal deficiencies, the procedure at the Polish Patent Office usually takes about six months, and at EUIPO a few months. However, protection is counted from the filing date, so it’s worth submitting your application as early as possible.
Is it necessary to trademark a logo?
There’s no obligation to do so. Without registration, your logo is protected by copyright law, but only against copying the graphic. Exclusive rights to use the mark in commerce and easier enforcement against imitators come only with trademark registration.
Can I trademark a logo designed by someone else?
Yes, if you have the economic copyright transferred to you in writing, with fields of exploitation covering use of the logo in your business and filing it as a trademark. Without such an agreement, the author can challenge the registration.
Can I trademark just the company name?
Yes, as a word mark, which protects the name regardless of font or color. Simply registering with CEIDG or KRS does not grant trademark protection. Exclusive rights to use the name as a designation for goods and services nationwide only come with registration.
When can I use the ® symbol?
Only after your trademark is registered. Before that, you can use the TM designation, which has no legal effect but signals that you treat the name or logo as your trademark.
Summary
Trademarking a logo – what’s worth remembering?
Trademarking a logo means registering a trademark with the Polish Patent Office, EUIPO, or offices in other countries. It gives you exclusive rights to use the mark in commerce for 10 years, with the option to renew. In Poland, total fees for one class are PLN 890 for electronic filing, and an EU trademark starts from 850 euros.
Before you file, make sure you have a written copyright transfer for the design, check for similar trademarks, and select the right classes. After filing, only pay to accounts listed on official office websites, and for important brands, use the help of a patent attorney.
