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Information pages for small and medium-sized enterprises

How to protect your innovations

Intellectual property rights are crucial to effectively protect innovations and trade marks against theft and counterfeiting. Our SME pages offer you information about what you as a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) can do to keep your company’s inventions safe. Moreover, they explain the importance of patents, trade marks, designs, copyrights and trade secrets. Not only do intellectual property rights provide protection and competitive advantages, they also make your company more attractive to potential investors and business opportunities.

  • How can I protect my ideas? (in German)

    Intellectual property in a nutshell

    Useful inventions, great designs or catchy trade mark names can have a very high economic value. All the more reason to protect your intellectual property against unwanted imitations! But what kind of intellectual property rights are there?

  • Strategies for intellectual property

    First steps

    Getting started is often the hardest part – which is why we have gathered some tips to help you save time and avoid unnecessary work regarding the protection of your intellectual property.

  • How to prosecute and sanction infringements

    Enforcing IP rights

    Intellectual property rights only work when you actually prosecute infringements. Find out which possibilities you have. Includes case studies and practical tips.

  • Information from the DPMA

    Find out more

    You want to learn more about IP rights? The DPMA and its cooperation partners are happy to support you and offer informational material, search rooms, initial consultations, trainings and funding opportunities.

  • Funding program 2026

    SME-Fonds

    This year, the European Commission will once again provide funding for small and medium-sized enterprises to make it easier for them to apply for industrial property rights. You can find more information on the SME Fund here.

  • News for SMEs

    Numbers, facts, trends

    Last but not least: In this section you’ll find the most recent studies and new developments regarding SMEs and intellectual property.

  • DPMA IP Hub: Information on intellectual property rights

    New on LinkedIn

    The German Patent and Trade Mark Office’s new LinkedIn channel offers start-ups, entrepreneurs, SMEs and anyone interested in innovation practical advice and the latest information on patents, trade marks, designs and innovation. Follow our new DPMA IP Hub now!

Images: iStock.com/skynesher; DPMA

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