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Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

What kinds of intellectual property rights are there?

In Germany, intellectual property is protected from imitation through the granting of property rights. The following property rights are differentiated between:


  • Patents (protection of new technical inventions)
  • Utility models (protection of technical innovations; in contrast to a patent, purely a registered right)
  • Industrial designs (protection of designs, patterns and models)
  • Trade marks (e.g. word and figurative marks)

Where you register property rights depends on the type of protection you are looking for and where it should be proected. If you are only looking to protect something in Germany, you can approach the German Patent and Trade Mark Office. Protection at European level can be applied for at the European Patent Office. The World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO) additionally offers international patent protection.

Handling of Intellectual Property Rights in Germany

Researchers should generally ask their employers at an early stage about the handling of intellectual property, patents and inventions. Information about intellectual property, patents and inventions may also be included in employment contracts.

Institutions of higher education and research institutions in Germany usually comply with the German Research Foundation's (DFG) "Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice", which is supposed to safeguard good scientific practice.

Further Information

Your Europe

Information on the intellectual property rights in the European Union

Please note that EURAXESS Germany is only able to provide general information on topics and we therefore will not assume any liability for any information provided on this portal. Information provided should not be seen as substituting that of an expert in pertinent fields.