Statistics

14 tables Patent applications and patents

4 tables Utility models and topographies

8 tables National trade marks

5 tables Designs

2 tables Other topics

To generate the statistical data, we use the dynamic statistics system DPMAstatistik. Due to this dynamic, the values can change over time, for example, when a legal status change has a retrospective effect. For this reason, the values depend on the respective date of retrieval.

More detailed statistics are available in the March edition of the gazette Blatt für Patent-, Muster- und Zeichenwesen (Blatt für PMZ), published by Carl Heymanns Verlag.

funded by the European Union's NextGenerationEU programme

The DPMA has received funding from the European Union's NextGenerationEU programme to improve the technical infrastructure and the data basis of the in-house statistical system.

Bereich Patente

Patent applications and patents

1.1 National patent applications at the DPMA and international patent applications effective in Germany

1.1 National patent applications at the DPMA and international patent applications effective in Germany (PCT applications in the national phase)1 Applications for a German patent filed with the DPMA. / 2 Residence or principal place of business of the applicant.
Year National applications 1 PCT applications in the national phase Patent Applications
Domestic2Foreign2TotalDomestic2Foreign2TotalDomestic2Foreign2Total
2020 41,098 13,489 54,587 1,171 6,354 7,525 42,269 19,843 62,112
2021 38,986 12,691 51,677 843 6,057 6,900 39,829 18,748 58,577
2022 36,517 13,689 50,206 687 6,318 7,005 37,204 20,007 57,211
2023 37,771 13,448 51,219 737 6,706 7,443 38,508 20,154 58,662
2024 39,284 12,974 52,258 780 6,222 7,002 40,064 19,196 59,260

1.2 Patent applications before entry into the examination procedure

1.2 Patent applications before entry into the examination procedure1 New applications and cases referred back by the Federal Patent Court, allowed appeals, reinstatements.
2 Withdrawals, non-payment of application or annual renewal fees, examination request not filed and refusals.
Year Total applications received  1 Procedures concluded before filing of examination request2 Patent applications pending at the end of the year
Total Applications for which formal examination has been concluded
2020 54,712 20,890 149,037 143,197
2021 51,770 21,412 143,794 138,740
2022 50,296 18,408 140,120 134,445
2023 51,325 16,777 137,905 132,111
2024 52,310 16,655 137,214 131,023

1.3 Patent applications in the examination procedure

1.3 Patent applications in the examination procedure
Year Examination requests received Examination procedures concluded Patent grants published
TotalExamination requests received along with application
2020 43,353 23,393 41,768 17,305
2021 43,353 22,694 48,521 21,113
2022 43,474 22,685 45,520 23,591
2023 44,816 23,991 42,671 22,363
2024 43,983 23,629 45,242 23,944

1.4 Patents in force (granted by the DPMA)

1.4 Patents in force (granted by the DPMA)
Year Patents entered into force Patents no longer in force Patents in force at the end of the year
2020 17,336 17,007 132,330
2021 21,145 18,742 134,732
2022 23,622 15,681 142,670
2023 22,394 16,700 148,364
2024 23,968 18,669 153,654

1.5 Opposition proceedings

1.5 Opposition proceedings1 Termination of the proceedings, inadmissibility of the objection.
2 Including a substantial part of the proceedings pending before the Federal Patent Court.
Year Oppositions received Opposition proceedings concluded Opposition proceedings pending at the end of the year2
Total Patent revoked Patent maintained or patent maintained in amended form Including other1
2020 259 304 102 148 54 1,138
2021 252 249 80 114 55 1,141
2022 230 308 93 158 57 1,063
2023 276 292 89 154 49 1,046
2024 237 271 66 163 42 1,012

1.6 Percentage of national patent applications where the applicant is identical with the inventor, broken down by residence or principal place of business of the applicant

1.6 Percentage of national patent applications in which the applicant is identical with the inventor, broken down by residence or principal place of business of the applicant
Origin 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Domestic 7.2 6.9 5.9 5.1 4.5
Foreign 1.7 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.2
Total 5.8 5.6 4.7 4.1 3.7

1.7 Breakdown of domestic patent applicants by filing activity (%)

1.7 Breakdown of domestic patent applicants by filing activity (%) 
Percentage of applicants having filed 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
one application 66.9 66.7 65.3 63.4 63.7
2 to 10 applications 28.9 28.8 29.6 31.4 30.7
11 to 100 applications 3.8 4.0 4.5 4.5 4.9
more then 100 applications 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.6 0.6
Total 100 100 100 100 100
1.7 Breakdown of domestic patent applicants by filing activity (%) 
Percentage of applications by appplicants having filed 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
one application 13.2 12.7 11.2 10.0 9.4
2 to 10 applications 18.9 18.3 17.6 17.0 15.4
11 to 100 applications 21.3 19.7 21.1 20.9 21.2
more then 100 applications 46.7 49.3 50.2 52.0 53.9
Total 100 100 100 100 100

1.8 Patent applications by country of origin (residence or principal place of business of the applicant, applications at the DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)

1.8 Patent applications by country of origin (residence or principal place of business of the applicant)
(applications at the DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)
Country 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Germany 42,269 39,829 37,204 38,508 40,064
Japan 7,248 6,131 6,339 6,404 6,592
United States 5,880 5,893 6,850 6,695 5,885
Republic of Korea 1,618 1,558 1,636 1,421 1,324
Switzerland 777 867 863 997 901
China 499 568 702 928 817
Austria 766 782 867 878 812
Taiwan 933 753 497 558 588
France 303 400 428 318 368
Sweden 321 320 360 319 323
Other 1,498 1,476 1,465 1,636 1,586
Total 62,112 58,577 57,211 58,662 59,260

1.9 Patent applications (applications at DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase) broken down by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the applicant)

1.9 Patent applications (applications at DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase) by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the applicant)
German Länder 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Baden-Württemberg 13,686 13,573 13,444 14,653 15,494
Bavaria 12,702 11,879 10,550 10,819 11,361
Berlin 675 526 484 477 468
Brandenburg 295 257 229 196 202
Bremen 121 102 104 109 136
Hamburg 622 463 377 401 440
Hesse 1,568 1,479 1,202 1,090 1,043
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 107 98 177 122 58
Lower Saxony 3,233 2,985 2,792 2,826 3,141
North Rhine-Westphalia 6,398 5,675 5,292 5,538 5,336
Rhineland-Palatinate 781 856 805 606 681
Saarland 192 178 137 98 113
Saxony 642 604 592 546 543
Saxony-Anhalt 159 154 122 141 98
Schleswig-Holstein 481 475 426 384 430
Thuringia 607 525 471 502 520
Germany 42,269 39,829 37,204 38,508 40,064

1.10 Patent applications, shares and applications per 100,000 inhabitants by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the applicant)

1.10 Patent applications, shares and applications per 100,000 inhabitants by German Länder (residence or prinicpal place of business of the applicant)
German Länder 2023 2024 Change from 2023 to 2024 (%)
Applications Share in % Applications per 100,000 inhabitants Applications Share in % Applications per 100,000 inhabitants
Baden-Württemberg 14,653 38.1 129 15,494 38.7 137 +5.7
Bavaria 10,819 28.1 81 11,361 28.4 85 +5.0
North Rhine-Westphalia 5,538 14.4 30 5,336 13.3 29 -3.6
Lower Saxony 2,826 7.3 35 3,141 7.8 38 +11.1
Hesse 1,090 2.8 17 1,043 2.6 16 -4.3
Rhineland-Palatinate 606 1.6 15 681 1.7 16 +12.4
Saxony 546 1.4 13 543 1.4 13 -0.5
Thuringia 502 1.3 24 520 1.3 25 +3.6
Berlin 477 1.2 13 468 1.2 12 -1.9
Hamburg 401 1.0 21 440 1.1 23 +9.7
Schleswig-Holstein 384 1.0 13 430 1.1 14 +12.0
Brandenburg 196 0.5 8 202 0.5 8 +3.1
Bremen 109 0.3 16 136 0.3 20 +24.8
Saarland 98 0.3 10 113 0.3 11 +15.3
Saxony-Anhalt 141 0.4 6 98 0.2 4 -30.5
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 122 0.3 7 58 0.1 4 -52.5
Germany 38,508 100 45 40,064 100 47 +4.0

1.11 Leading fields of technology1 in the individual German Länder in 2024

1.11 Leading fields of technology in the individual German Länder in 20241According to the WIPO IPC-Technology Concordance Table.
German Länder No. Fields of technology Patent applications Change from 2023 to 2024 (%)
Baden-Württemberg 32 Transport 3,482 +6.5
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 2,273 0.0
10 Measurement 1,463 +10.2
Bavaria 32 Transport 2,552 +10.3
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 1,807 +3.1
10 Measurement 792 +15.1
Berlin 6 Computer technology 48 +29.7
13 Medical technology 46 +35.3
10 Measurement 40 +37.9
Brandenburg 27 Engines, pumps, turbines 30 +100.0
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 29 +20.8
35 Civil engineering 14 +55.6
Bremen 1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 37 +94.7
10 Measurement 30 +50.0
32 Transport 10 -41.2
Hamburg 32 Transport 88 +137.8
25 Handling 58 -1.7
14 Organic fine chemistry 55 +44.7
Hesse 31 Mechanical elements 116 +30.3
13 Medical technology 111 +22.0
10 Measurement 95 +10.5
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 35 Civil engineering 11 +22.2
29 Other special machines 9 +12.5
30 Thermal processes and apparatus 5 0.0
Lower Saxony 32 Transport 970 +16.6
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 311 +33.5
10 Measurement 260 +36.8
North Rhine-Westphalia 1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 634 -1.6
35 Civil engineering 564 +13.9
32 Transport 446 +14.7
Rhineland-Palatinate 35 Civil engineering 85 +32.8
32 Transport 78 +44.4
31 Mechanical elements 51 -10.5
Saarland 31 Mechanical elements 23 +53.3
24 Environmental technology 13 +44.4
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 12 +20.0
Saxony 1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 71 +2.9
10 Measurement 51 -5.6
21 Surface technology, coating 40 +25.0
Saxony-Anhalt 8 Semiconductors 16 -5.9
35 Civil engineering 13 +44.4
13 Medical technology 11 -15.4
Schleswig-Holstein 19 Basic materials chemistry 49 +88.5
13 Medical technology 41 +5.1
35 Civil engineering 31 +24.0
Thuringia 9 Optics 129 +57.3
13 Medical technology 94 0.0
10 Measurement 55 +12.2

1.12 Patent applications filed by universities by German Länder (applications at DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)

1.12 Patent applications filed by universities by German Länder (applications at the DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)1 Due to rounding differences the sum of the figures may differ from the figure for Germany.
German Länder 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Baden-Württemberg 67 72 49 42 47
Bavaria 59 44 58 43 51
Berlin 16 12 15 10 12
Brandenburg 14 15 12 5 10
Bremen 12 8 12 7 10
Hamburg 17 16 7 9 6
Hesse 45 44 22 33 24
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 19 20 11 8 6
Lower Saxony 43 29 29 26 25
North Rhine-Westphalia 131 131 114 116 130
Rhineland-Palatinate 10 15 13 14 13
Saarland 5 7 2 1 5
Saxony 118 109 105 96 75
Saxony-Anhalt 27 26 10 17 8
Schleswig-Holstein 22 17 15 21 9
Thuringia 26 24 28 26 27
Germany1 629 588 502 469 457

1.13 Patent applications by technology fields1 with the largest number of applications in 2024 (applications at DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)

Patent applications by technology fields with the largest number of applications in 2024 as line chart

Technology field 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Transport 10,781 (Rank 1) 10,497 (Rank 1) 10,360 (Rank 1) 10,639 (Rank 1) 11,153 (Rank 1)
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 7,025 (Rank 2) 7,181 (Rank 2) 7,331 (Rank 2) 8,068 (Rank 2) 8,248 (Rank 2)
Measurement 4,582 (Rank 3) 4,494 (Rank 3) 4,292 (Rank 3) 4,443 (Rank 3) 4,712 (Rank 3)
Mechanical elements 4,434 (Rank 4) 4,088 (Rank 4) 3,606 (Rank 4) 3,358 (Rank 4) 3,411 (Rank 4)
Computer technology 3,144 (Rank 5) 2,905 (Rank 5) 3,487 (Rank 5) 3,330 (Rank 5) 3,311 (Rank 5)
Semiconductors 2,242 (Rank 9) 1,940 (Rank 10) 1,869 (Rank 9) 2,179 (Rank 6) 2,167 (Rank 6)
Machine tools 2,267 (Rank 8) 1,958 (Rank 9) 1,853 (Rank 10) 1,926 (Rank 8) 2,072 (Rank 7)
Handling 2,055 (Rank 11) 1,934 (Rank 11) 1,886 (Rank 8) 2,129 (Rank 7) 2,028 (Rank 8)
Civil engineering 2,166 (Rank 10) 1,981 (Rank 7) 1,851 (Rank 11) 1,750 (Rank 11) 1,929 (Rank 9)
Engines, pumps, turbines 2,707 (Rank 6) 2,303 (Rank 6) 1,890 (Rank 7) 1,804 (Rank 10) 1,706 (Rank 10)
Other special machines 2,033 (Rank 12) 1,902 (Rank 12) 1,941 (Rank 6) 1,872 (Rank 9) 1,693 (Rank 11)
Medical technology 2,384 (Rank 7) 1,978 (Rank 8) 1,762 (Rank 12) 1,672 (Rank 12) 1,639 (Rank 12)
1.13 Patent applications by technology fields with the largest number of applications in 2024 (applications at DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)1 According to the WIPO IPC-Technology Concordance Table.

1.14 Companies and institutions with the highest numbers of patent applications in 2024 (applications at DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)

1.14 Companies and institutions with the highest numbers of patent applications in 2024
(applications at the DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)1 Proportional counting in the case of several applicants; without taking into account any business intra-group affiliations.
Rank Applicant1 Principal place of business Applications
1 Robert Bosch GmbH DE 4,496
2 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG DE 2,297
3 Mercedes-Benz Group AG DE 2,138
4 Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG DE 1,409
5 GM Global Technology Operations LLC   US 1,299
6 ZF Friedrichshafen AG DE 1,175
7 VOLKSWAGEN AG DE 1,147
8 Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG DE 1,080
9 AUDI AG DE 1,058
10 Ford Global Technologies, LLC   US 962
11 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation   JP 672
12 Continental Automotive GmbH DE 520
13 Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH DE 388
14 ams-OSRAM International GmbH DE 383
15 Infineon Technologies AG DE 363
16 Toyota Jidosha K.K.   JP 354
17 MAHLE International GmbH DE 353
18 Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH DE 343
19 NVIDIA Corporation   US 322
20 Miele & Cie. KG DE 315
21 Siemens Healthineers AG DE 310
22 YAZAKI Corporation   JP 308
23 FANUC Corporation   JP 292
24 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH DE 280
25 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.   TW 270
26 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. DE 268
27 DENSO Corporation   JP 262
28 Hyundai Motor Company   KR 260
29 Kia Corporation   KR 257
30 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. DE 241
31 KRONES AG DE 235
32 LG Display Co. Ltd.   KR 225
33 Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.   JP 216
33 Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH DE 216
35 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP   US 210
35 SEW-EURODRIVE GmbH & Co KG DE 210
37 Intel Corporation   US 195
38 Stellantis Auto SAS   FR 194
39 Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG DE   186
40 Siemens AG DE   183
41 Voith Patent GmbH DE 181
42 ROHM Co., Ltd.   JP 178
43 Siemens Mobility GmbH DE 174
44 Deere & Company   US 172
45 Apple Inc. US 169
46 Daimler Truck AG DE   167
46 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation   US 167
48 Aktiebolaget SKF   SE 160
49 HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA DE   157
50 Henkel AG & Co. KGaA DE   147
50 Shimano Inc.   JP 147
Section Utility models

Utility models and topographies

2.1 Utility models (applications at DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)

2.1a Utility models (applications at the DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)
Year Filings  Procedures concluded
New applicationsDomestic applicationsOther 1TotalBy registrationWithout registrationTotal
2020 12,313 8,894 15 12,328 10,736 1,496 12,232
2021 10,575 7,028 15 10,590 9,972 1,363 11,335
2022 9,470 5,524 14 9,484 8,765 1,082 9,847
2023 9,703 5,515 9 9,712 8,325 994 9,319
2024 9,577 5,234 21 9,598 9,064 857 9,921
2.1b Utility models (applications at the DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase)1 Cases referred back by the Federal Patent Court, allowed appeals, reinstatements.
Year Pending registration procedures at the end of the yearUtility models in force at the end of the yearRenewalsLapsed utility models
2020 3,911 74,868 18,308 12,805
2021 3,163 72,737 18,177 12,129
2022 2,792 70,253 17,632 11,272
2023 3,183 67,019 16,833 11,593
2024 2,852 64,009 16,144 12,099

2.2 Topographies under the Semiconductor Protection Act (Halbleiterschutzgesetz)

2.2 Topographies under the Semiconductor Protection Act (Halbleiterschutzgesetz)
Year New applications received Procedures concluded Pending applications at the end of the year Lapsed due to expiry Registrations in force at the end of the year
By registrationWithout registrationTotal
2020 0 0 0 0 0 1 20
2021 3 1 2 3 0 1 20
2022 2 1 0 1 1 2 19
2023 1 1 0 1 1 8 12
2024 3 3 1 4 0 2 13

2.3 Utility model applications (applications at DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase) by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the applicant)

2.3 Utility model applications (applications at the DPMA and PCT applications in the national phase) by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the applicant)
German Länder 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Baden-Württemberg 1,578 1,292 1,092 1,002 934
Bavaria 2,019 1,535 1,204 1,254 1,227
Berlin 343 254 189 200 138
Brandenburg 106 97 62 69 71
Bremen 46 32 28 24 18
Hamburg 154 128 97 90 94
Hesse 615 493 330 377 304
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 61 55 37 61 31
Lower Saxony 596 541 419 344 350
North Rhine-Westphalia 2,250 1,699 1,399 1,471 1,419
Rhineland-Palatinate 352 283 208 198 218
Saarland 68 49 26 29 45
Saxony 286 198 150 156 151
Saxony-Anhalt 109 69 60 59 37
Schleswig-Holstein 180 175 137 107 108
Thuringia 131 128 86 74 89
Germany 8,894 7,028 5,524 5,515 5,234

2.4 Utility model applications, shares and applications per 100,000 inhabitants by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the applicant)

2.4 Utility model applications, shares and applications per 100,000 inhabitants by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the applicant)
German Länder 2023 2024 Change from 2023 to 2024 (%)
Applications Share in % Applications per 100,000 inhabitants Applications Share in % Applications per 100,000 inhabitants
North Rhine-Westphalia 1,471 26.7 8 1,419 27.1 8 -3.5
Bavaria 1,254 22.7 9 1,227 23.4 9 -2.2
Baden-Württemberg 1,002 18.2 9 934 17.8 8 -6.8
Lower Saxony 344 6.2 4 350 6.7 4 +1.7
Hesse 377 6.8 6 304 5.8 5 -19.4
Rhineland-Palatinate 198 3.6 5 218 4.2 5 +10.1
Saxony 156 2.8 4 151 2.9 4 -3.2
Berlin 200 3.6 5 138 2.6 4 -31.0
Schleswig-Holstein 107 1.9 4 108 2.1 4 +0.9
Hamburg 90 1.6 5 94 1.8 5 +4.4
Thuringia 74 1.3 3 89 1.7 4 +20.3
Brandenburg 69 1.3 3 71 1.4 3 +2.9
Saarland 29 0.5 3 45 0.9 5 +55.2
Saxony-Anhalt 59 1.1 3 37 0.7 2 -37.3
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 61 1.1 4 31 0.6 2 -49.2
Bremen 24 0.4 3 18 0.3 3 -25.0
Germany 5,515 100 7 5,234 100 6 -5.1
Bereich Marken

National trade marks

3.1 Applications and registrations

3.1 Applications and registrations1 Proportion of claimed service classes in all claimed classes in national trade mark applications, as a trade mark application may be assigned to several classes.
Year Filings  Registration pursuant to section 41 Trade Mark Act (Markengesetz)
New applications After being concluded by the Federal Patent Court Total
Total Domestic applications Proportion of services (%) 1
2020 84,623 78,713 44.8 336 84,959 60,445
2021 87,649 81,817 44.0 282 87,931 68,638
2022 73,312 68,190 44.3 284 73,596 53,636
2023 75,261 69,577 42.7 252 75,513 48,689
2024 77,221 70,305 42.4 255 77,476 49,991

3.2 Opposition proceedings

3.2 Opposition proceedings1 (Partial) cancellations in particular due to the surrender of the proprietor.
Year Oppositions received Opposition proceedings concluded
Trade marks challenged by oppositions Number of oppositions Number of opposing signs  Without affecting the trade mark Cancellation in full or in part Procedure obsolete1
2020 2,842 3,063 4,816 1,893 521 662
2021 3,305 3,565 5,700 1,784 428 680
2022 2,764 2,983 4,955 1,750 530 638
2023 2,161 2,294 3,833 1,738 590 548
2024 2,205 2,373 3,821 1,504 525 534

3.3 Cancellations, renewals, trade marks in force

3.3 Cancellations, renewals, trade marks in force
Year Cancellations as well as other disposals Renewals Trade marks in force at the end of the year
2020 45,181 39,491 845,728
2021 45,818 35,945 868,539
2022 41,521 34,369 880,642
2023 40,536 34,296 888,773
2024 41,032 35,891 897,701

3.4 Procedures for the international registration of marks

3.4a Applications for international registration of marks originating from Germany
Year Applications for international registration of trade marks originating from Germany
Applications received Procedures concluded Cases pending at the end of the year
Applications transmitted to WIPO 1 Applications withdrawn or refused
2020 4,415 4,255 137 294
2021 4,958 4,779 125 351
2022 4,385 4,386 120 230
2023 3,612 3,528 104 211
2024 3,359 3,320 67 183
3.4b Extension of protection of international registrations of marks originating from Madrid Union countries to Germany1 Not including requests for the extension of protection under Art. 3ter(2) Madrid Agreement; 62 requests for the extension of protection were received in 2024, and 54 requests were transmitted to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
2 Not including other requests and not including renewals.
Year Extension of protection of international registrations of marks originating
from Madrid Union countries to Germany
Requests received 2 Procedures concluded Cases pending at the end of the year Requests received
Full grant of protection Grant of protection in part Refusal, surrender or cancellation in the International Register Oppositions Appeals
2020 4,819 3,582 336 772 3,458 172 23
2021 4,686 2,969 371 1,222 3,579 171 26
2022 4,118 3,558 286 712 3,138 145 34
2023 3,433 3,272 262 727 2,310 115 23
2024 3,144 2,542 203 516 2,192 109 16

3.5 National trade mark applications by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the applicant)

3.5 National trade mark applications by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the applicant)
German Länder 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Baden-Württemberg 10,141 9,992 8,362 8,343 8,053
Bavaria 14,470 14,846 12,520 11,191 11,431
Berlin 5,930 6,009 5,189 4,785 4,758
Brandenburg 1,440 1,388 1,167 1,167 1,127
Bremen 633 749 533 486 569
Hamburg 4,090 4,188 3,257 3,186 3,117
Hesse 6,311 6,445 5,272 5,270 5,106
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 765 852 615 574 551
Lower Saxony 5,709 6,086 4,692 5,068 5,055
North Rhine-Westphalia 18,123 19,858 17,710 20,359 21,568
Rhineland-Palatinate 3,606 3,805 2,801 3,042 2,858
Saarland 723 639 499 541 570
Saxony 2,314 2,275 1,840 1,930 1,834
Saxony-Anhalt 851 818 707 705 815
Schleswig-Holstein 2,648 2,789 2,147 2,136 2,164
Thuringia 959 1,078 879 794 729
Germany 78,713 81,817 68,190 69,577 70,305

3.6 Trade mark applications, shares and number of applications per 100,000 inhabitants by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the proprietor)

3.6 Trade mark applications, shares and number of applications per 100,000 inhabitants by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the proprietor)
German Länder 2023 2024 Change from 2023 to 2024 (%)
Applications Share in % Applications per 100,000 inhabitants Applications Share in % Applications per 100,000 inhabitants
North Rhine-Westphalia 20,359 29.3 112 21,568 30.7 119 +5.9
Bavaria 11,191 16.1 83 11,431 16.3 85 +2.1
Baden-Württemberg 8,343 12.0 74 8,053 11.5 71 -3.5
Hesse 5,270 7.6 82 5,106 7.3 80 -3.1
Lower Saxony 5,068 7.3 62 5,055 7.2 62 -0.3
Berlin 4,785 6.9 127 4,758 6.8 126 -0.6
Hamburg 3,186 4.6 167 3,117 4.4 163 -2.2
Rhineland-Palatinate 3,042 4.4 73 2,858 4.1 68 -6.0
Schleswig-Holstein 2,136 3.1 72 2,164 3.1 73 +1.3
Saxony 1,930 2.8 47 1,834 2.6 45 -5.0
Brandenburg 1,167 1.7 45 1,127 1.6 44 -3.4
Saxony-Anhalt 705 1.0 32 815 1.2 37 +15.6
Thuringia 794 1.1 37 729 1.0 34 -8.2
Saarland 541 0.8 54 570 0.8 57 +5.4
Bremen 486 0.7 70 569 0.8 82 +17.1
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 574 0.8 35 551 0.8 34 -4.0
Germany 69,577 100 82 70,305 100 83 +1.0

3.7 Classes1 of national trade marks applied for

3.7 Classes of national trade marks applied for1A trade mark application can be attributed to several classes.
2 Class headings in accordance with the current version of the Nice Classification are available here.
Rank Class Class essentially includes 2 2023 2024 Change (%)
1 35 Advertising; business management, organisation and administration; office functions 24,056 23,986 -0.3
2 41 Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities 18,320 19,284 +5.3
3 9 Electrical apparatus and instruments; computer hardware; software; optical apparatus and instruments 14,175 15,025 +6.0
4 25 Clothing, footwear and headgear 12,322 12,360 +0.3
5 42 Scientific and technological services 12,416 12,213 -1.6
6 16 Office requisites; stationery 9,870 10,678 +8.2
7 21 Household and kitchen utensils and containers; articles for cleaning purposes; tableware, dishes; glassware 7,797 8,302 +6.5
8 28 Games, sports articles 6,207 6,860 +10.5
9 44 Medical services; hygienic and beauty care; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services 6,556 6,784 +3.5
10 30 Foodstuffs of plant origin; pastries, pasta and confectionery; seasonings, condiments; coffee, tea and cocoa; sugar 5,756 6,094 +5.9
11 36 Insurance and financial services; real estate affairs 5,786 6,011 +3.9
12 43 Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation 5,663 5,886 +3.9
13 37 Building, construction and repair services; installation services 5,613 5,318 -5.3
14 3 Cleaning preparations; cosmetics; perfumery 5,025 5,282 +5.1
15 5 Pharmaceuticals; materials for dressings; disinfectants; dietary supplements 4,712 5,276 +12.0
16 18 Leather products; luggage and carrying bags 5,731 5,172 -9.8
17 20 Furniture and home decorations 5,092 4,958 -2.6
18 38 Telecommunications services 4,584 4,682 +2.1
19 32 Non-alcoholic beverages; beers 4,051 4,256 +5.1
20 11 Heating; ventilation; apparatus and installations for sanitary purposes 3,891 4,156 +6.8
21 45 Legal services; security services for the physical protection of individuals 3,877 3,993 +3.0
22 39 Transport and travel arrangement; packaging and storage of goods 4,128 3,956 -4.2
23 24 Woven material and blankets; household linen 3,889 3,868 -0.5
24 33 Alcoholic beverages 3,400 3,433 +1.0
25 7 Machines, motors and engines 3,195 3,328 +4.2
26 40 Treatment of materials; printing services 3,348 3,327 -0.6
27 29 Foodstuffs of animal origin; milk products; processed fruits and vegetables 3,334 3,317 -0.5
28 14 Jewellery, clocks and watches 3,299 3,029 -8.2
29 12 Vehicles 3,141 2,848 -9.3
30 10 Medical apparatus and instruments; orthopaedic articles 2,316 2,630 +13.6
31 6 Common metals and goods made thereof for building and construction; small items of metal hardware 2,655 2,479 -6.6
32 31 Agricultural, horticultural and forestry products; foodstuffs for animals 2,290 2,450 +7.0
33 8 Hand tools; cutlery 1,927 1,924 -0.2
34 1 Chemicals; fertilizers; unprocessed plastics and artificial resins 1,972 1,836 -6.9
35 19 Non-metallic building and construction materials 1,928 1,702 -11.7
36 26 Haberdashery; decorative articles for the hair 1,499 1,392 -7.1
37 4 Industrial oils and lubricants; fuels 1,540 1,373 -10.8
38 27 Floor coverings and mats; wall coverings and ceiling lining 1,141 1,128 -1.1
39 34 Tobacco, smokers’ articles 928 972 +4.7
40 22 Ropes; tents, tarpaulins and sails 910 900 -1.1
41 17 Insulating materials; semi-processed goods; flexible pipes, tubes and hoses, not of metal 1,074 893 -16.9
42 2 Paints; varnishes; lacquers; printing inks 862 739 -14.3
43 15 Musical instruments 389 486 +24.9
44 13 Firearms 200 283 +41.5
45 23 Yarns and threads 233 211 -9.4
Not classified 48 49
Total 221,146 225,129 +1.8

3.8 Top companies and institutions in terms of trade mark registrations in 2024 (registrations of trade marks pursuant to section 41 of the Trade Mark Act)

3.8 Top companies and institutions in terms of trade mark registrations in 2024 (registrations of trade marks pursuant to section 41 Trade Mark Act)1 Proportional counting in the case of several proprietors; without taking into account any business intra-group affiliations.
Rank Proprietor 1 Principal place of business Registrations
1 Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH DE   135
2 Point Commerce B.V.   BE 95
3 Henkel AG & Co. KGaA DE   56
4 TK Gruppe GmbH DE   37
5 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG DE   33
6 enovative GmbH DE   32
6 LOTTO Hessen GmbH DE   32
8 ApoE Consulting GmbH DE   31
9 OmniVision GmbH DE   30
10 MERCK KGaA DE   29
10 VOLKSWAGEN AG DE 29
12 Adrock Media FZCO   AE 26
12 Hyundai Motor Company   KR 26
14 Bothmer Pyrotechnik GmbH DE   24
14 Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd.   CN 24
14 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. DE 24
17 EDEKA ZENTRALE Stiftung & Co. KG DE   21
17 VISIONBORN IP GmbH DE   21
19 advastore SE DE   20
19 Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. DE   20
19 Evonik Operations GmbH DE   20
19 HARIBO Holding GmbH & Co. KG DE   20
Bereich Designs

Designs

4.1 Applications and procedures concluded

4.1 Applications and procedures concluded1 Provisional for 2024, as the actual number of designs applied for is not known before completion of the registration procedure.
Year Filings1  Procedures concluded
Designs in Total Designs in domestic applications By registration Domestic Without registration Total
Applications with multiple designs Applications with one design
2020 37,659 2,493 40,152 35,867 37,130 33,213 4,210 41,340
2021 34,988 2,261 37,249 33,985 31,089 28,329 3,390 34,479
2022 32,637 1,180 33,817 31,777 36,256 34,132 3,602 39,858
2023 28,110 1,149 29,259 27,564 27,018 25,411 2,733 29,751
2024 28,723 1,239 29,962 27,924 28,024 25,967 2,651 30,675

4.2 Registered designs by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the proprietor)

4.2 Registered designs by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the proprietor)
German Länder 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Baden-Württemberg 5,056 4,869 5,868 4,762 4,609
Bavaria 6,139 4,853 5,227 4,246 4,681
Berlin 1,731 1,875 2,362 1,579 1,544
Brandenburg 172 150 277 200 284
Bremen 98 135 185 257 110
Hamburg 715 719 681 697 758
Hesse 1,544 1,351 1,511 1,091 1,303
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 188 134 88 294 128
Lower Saxony 2,546 1,729 2,670 1,582 1,723
North Rhine-Westphalia 10,584 9,178 10,581 7,785 7,349
Rhineland-Palatinate 1,114 930 2,089 1,012 1,456
Saarland 308 115 110 123 124
Saxony 1,268 953 903 657 581
Saxony-Anhalt 580 220 244 164 152
Schleswig-Holstein 892 925 788 712 887
Thuringia 278 193 548 250 278
Germany 33,213 28,329 34,132 25,411 25,967

4.3 Pending designs (applied for) and registered designs in force; invalidity proceedings

4.3 Pending designs (applied for) and registered designs in force; invalidity proceedings1 Data correction compared to the previous year's statistics.
Year Pending designs (applied for) at the end of the year Extensions of registered designs1 Designs maintained / renewed1 Cancellations Registered and in force at the end of the year Invalidity proceedings
Applications filed Proceedings concluded
2020 13,517 3,374 15,294 50,005 290,596 59 63
2021 16,273 3,185 16,292 51,200 270,485 19 28
2022 10,227 2,505 15,326 46,340 260,401 36 26
2023 9,718 2,305 13,370 38,520 248,899 15 21
2024 8,988 2,150 13,516 38,730 238,193 22 34

4.4 Registered designs, percentages and designs per 100,000 inhabitants by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the proprietor)

4.4 Registered designs, percentages and designs per 100,000 inhabitants by German Länder (residence or principal place of business of the proprietor)
German Länder 2023 2024 Change from 2023 to 2024 (%)
Registered designs Share Registered designs per 100,000 inhabitants Registered designs Share Registered designs per 100,000 inhabitants
North Rhine-Westphalia 7,785 30.6 43 7,349 28.3 40 -5.6
Bavaria 4,246 16.7 32 4,681 18.0 35 +10.2
Baden-Württemberg 4,762 18.7 42 4,609 17.7 41 -3.2
Lower Saxony 1,582 6.2 19 1,723 6.6 21 +8.9
Berlin 1,579 6.2 42 1,544 5.9 41 -2.2
Rhineland-Palatinate 1,012 4.0 24 1,456 5.6 35 +43.9
Hesse 1,091 4.3 17 1,303 5.0 20 +19.4
Schleswig-Holstein 712 2.8 24 887 3.4 30 +24.6
Hamburg 697 2.7 36 758 2.9 40 +8.8
Saxony 657 2.6 16 581 2.2 14 -11.6
Brandenburg 200 0.8 8 284 1.1 11 +42.0
Thuringia 250 1.0 12 278 1.1 13 +11.2
Saxony-Anhalt 164 0.6 8 152 0.6 7 -7.3
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 294 1.2 18 128 0.5 8 -56.5
Saarland 123 0.5 12 124 0.5 12 +0.8
Bremen 257 1.0 37 110 0.4 16 -57.2
Germany 25,411 100 30 25,967 100 31 +2.2

4.5 Top companies and institutions in terms of registered designs at the DPMA in 2024 (excluding partnerships organised under the German Civil Code)

4.5 Top companies and institutions in terms of registered designs at the DPMA in 2024 (excluding partnerships organised under the German Civil Code)1 Proportional counting in the case of several proprietors; without taking into account any business intra-group affiliations.
Rank Proprietor 1 Principal place of business Registered designs
1 Betty Barclay Group GmbH & Co. KG DE
972
2 SWING Collections GmbH DE
708
3 SHOE CONZEPT Handels GmbH DE
   569
4 monari GmbH DE
516
5 The House of Art GmbH DE
   420
6 Goebel Porzellan GmbH DE
322
7 AstorMueller AG   CH 291
8 GEMINI Schuhproduktions- und Vertriebs GmbH DE
   286
9 Innostyle-Möbelvertriebs GmbH & Co. KG DE
261
10 Räder GmbH DE
258
11 Candy Polstermöbel GmbH DE
235
12 Wohnmanufactur Grünberger s.r.o.   CZ
 234
13 Mercedes-Benz Group AG DE
224
14 Paul Green GmbH   AT
 188
15 Wilhelm Johann Meier GmbH DE
177
16 Schuh-Import und Export GERLI GmbH DE   175
17 Dyckhoff GmbH DE
160
18 Wolf Möbel GmbH & Co. KG DE
   155
19 MB Brand Collection UG (haftungsbeschränkt) DE
154
20 Epic Brands GmbH DE
150
Bereich DPMA

Other topics

5. Register of anonymous and pseudonymous works

5. Register of anonymous and pseudonymous works1 Some applicants may have submitted several applications or applications for several works.
Year Works in respect of which the author’s true name was filed for registration Applicants 1 Procedures concluded Pending applications at the end of the year
By registration Without registration
2020 5 2 0 0 5
2021 2 2 6 1 0
2022 6 5 4 1 1
2023 0 0 1 0 0
2024 15 3 14 1 0

6. Patent attorneys and representatives

6. Patent attorneys and representatives
Year Patent attorneys  1 European and foreign patent attorneys as members of the German Chamber of Patent Attorneys (section 20 Act on the Activities of European Patent Attorneys in Germany, section 157 Patent Attorney Code) 1  Patent attorney companies1, 2
Entered in register Cancellations Registered at the end of the year
2020 157 66 4,022 37 32
2021 158 81 4,099 40 35
2022 199 93 4,205 44 184
2023 161 120 4,246 49 328
2024 143 115 4,274 47 354
6. Patent attorneys and representatives1 Source: German Chamber of Patent Attorneys.
2 As a rule, all professional practice companies (Berufsausübungsgesellschaften) have been required to obtain admission by the German Chamber of Patent Attorneys (section 52f (1) Patent Attorney Code) since 1 August 2022.
Year Qualifying examination for patent attorneys General powers of attorney
Number of examinees Sucessful candidates Entered in the register Cancelled Registered at the end of the year
2020 163 155 573 318 34,349
2021 174 166 707 369 34,687
2022 168 161 545 558 34,674
2023 147 138 426 389 34,711
2024 138 129 490 833 34,368
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