How much does filing a trademark with the INPI cost?

You are ready to file your trademark with the INPI (French Patent and Trademark Office) and you are wondering how much it will actually cost. The official rates are public: starting at 190 euros for one class of goods or services. But the real cost of filing a trademark with the INPI often exceeds that first estimate, once additional classes, possible irregularities to correct, or the use of a representative to secure the procedure are added in.

This article details the applicable official rates, how the Nice Classification works and its direct impact on the final bill, the concrete steps to validly register a trademark, the risks of a poorly prepared filing, and the financial aid schemes that can reduce the burden for eligible companies.

How much does filing a trademark with the INPI cost: official rates in force

The rates applied by the INPI (French Patent and Trademark Office) are set by regulation and officially published. The fee structure rests on two components: a base fee covering the first class of goods or services, and an additional fee for each extra class. The filing method, online or paper, has a direct impact on the final amount.

Note: these amounts correspond to the official INPI fees currently in force (decree of December 27, 2023). They are subject to change; the current rates should be checked on the INPI website before any filing.

Online filing therefore offers a 100 euro saving on the base fee compared with paper filing, with no difference on additional classes. For an applicant selecting three classes, the total amount of INPI fees comes to 270 euros online versus 370 euros on paper.

These fees cover only the processing of the registration application by the INPI. They do not include:

• the cost of a prior-rights search before filing, intended to verify that no identical or similar trademark is already registered;
• the fees of a representative or an industrial property attorney if you choose to be assisted;
• the costs related to a possible opposition filed by a third party after publication of the application;
• the costs of correcting any formal irregularities in the filed file.

The effective cost of registering a trademark with the INPI therefore includes these additional items, which can significantly exceed the official fees depending on the complexity of the file and the number of classes selected. The decision to file a trademark in one, two, or several classes is one of the main levers for adjusting the total budget.

What is the Nice Classification and how many classes should you choose?

The Nice Classification is an international system adopted under the Nice Agreement of June 15, 1957, organized into 45 thematic classes: classes 1 to 34 cover goods, and classes 35 to 45 cover services. Any registration application filed with the INPI must indicate the classes in which the trademark will be protected, because the protection conferred by article L. 711-1 of the French Intellectual Property Code is limited to the goods and services covered at the time of filing. Outside those classes, the trademark does not enjoy protection.

Selecting the classes is not an administrative formality: it is a strategic decision that determines the actual scope of the protection of your trademark. Choosing too few classes exposes you to situations where a third party uses a similar sign for a related activity without your being able to act. Conversely, multiplying classes that have no link to your actual activity needlessly increases the fees and can weaken your registration: an owner that does not seriously use the trademark in a class for an uninterrupted period of five years risks losing its rights in that class, pursuant to article L. 714-5 of the French Intellectual Property Code.

To calibrate the trademark filing as precisely as possible, a prior audit of your current activity and your foreseeable developments over three to five years is essential. The goal is to identify the goods you sell, the services you provide, and the adjacent activities you might carry on under the same trademark.

Concrete example. A startup that develops software sold online and runs training sessions on its use should consider at least three classes: class 42 (software, IT and technology services), class 9 (recorded software, digital applications), and class 41 (training, teaching). Limiting the filing to class 42 alone would leave the training activity unprotected, allowing a third party to use a similar sign without technically infringing the registered trademark.

A few practical benchmarks by sector:

• A clothing trademark should cover at least class 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear) and, if an online store is operated, class 35 (retail sales).
• A restaurant trademark falls mainly under class 43 (restaurant and temporary accommodation services).
• A cosmetics trademark covers class 3, and class 44 if beauty care services are offered.

Romain Waiss-Moreau regularly handles the definition of the scope of classes before filing, a step that directly conditions the level of protection obtained and the strength of the registration against a possible opposition or future infringement action.

Who can file a trademark with the INPI?

Any natural or legal person may file a trademark with the INPI, with no condition tied to commercial status or to actual exercise of an activity at the time of filing. An individual, a sole proprietor, a commercial company, an association, or even a public authority can all file. Article L. 712-1 of the French Intellectual Property Code provides that trademark ownership can be acquired in co-ownership, opening the way to joint filings by several owners.

For entities in formation, it is possible to file a trademark in the name of a company in formation, provided that the company ratifies the filing as soon as it is definitively registered. On this point, Romain Waiss-Moreau advises addressing the question of ownership before the entity is even created, in order to avoid costly transfer operations and periods of vulnerability when the trademark is not yet tied to the operating entity.

How to file a trademark with the INPI: step-by-step procedure

The filing procedure follows a sequence of steps whose order is not trivial. Skipping or rushing one of them exposes the application to rejection, third-party opposition, or registration of a vulnerable trademark. The total duration, absent opposition, is generally four to six months from the filing date.

The prior-rights search deserves special attention. It is not listed among the formal obligations imposed by the French Intellectual Property Code, but skipping it is one of the most common causes of post-registration difficulties. A sign registered without prior verification may turn out to conflict with an earlier trademark, exposing its owner to an infringement action or invalidity proceedings. Romain Waiss-Moreau includes this step in every filing engagement, cross-checking INPI databases with relevant European Union and international registers.

Filing alone or with a representative: what are the real risks?

Filing on your own is technically accessible to any applicant: the INPI platform does not require third-party involvement. This accessibility is real, but it should not obscure the legal nature of the act. Registering a trademark means creating an industrial property right enforceable against third parties for ten years. An error at this stage can compromise the entire protection.

The concrete risks of filing without counsel

• Wrong choice of classes: a trademark registered in insufficient classes leaves entire areas of activity uncovered. A competitor can then lawfully use a similar sign for neighboring, uncovered services.
• Insufficiently distinctive sign: a generic or descriptive term will be refused registration. Article L. 711-2 of the French Intellectual Property Code expressly excludes signs composed exclusively of indications used to designate a characteristic of the good or service. Without prior distinctiveness analysis, the risk of refusal is real.
• Undetected prior rights: the INPI does not conduct prior-rights searches on its own initiative. A sign registered without verification may be the subject of an opposition within two months of publication, or of a later invalidity action.
• Unmanaged opposition: when a third party files an opposition after publication of the filing, the procedure becomes adversarial. Without command of the legal arguments, the applicant risks losing the registration on points that could have been anticipated or defended.

What a filing error can cost. A trademark refused for lack of distinctiveness requires a new filing, with new official fees. A trademark successfully attacked in invalidity, for lack of verified prior rights, retroactively deprives its owner of any protection. In both cases, the initial fees are lost, and the unprotected period may have allowed third parties to establish themselves in the market.

The added value of an industrial property advisor or an attorney

An industrial property advisor or an attorney who practices trademark law works on three distinct levels: securing the initial filing (choice of the sign, selection of classes, prior-rights search), defense in case of opposition or invalidity proceedings, and definition of a protection strategy consistent with the development of the business, including internationally. Romain Waiss-Moreau structures these engagements so that the cost of counsel is weighed not against the INPI fee alone, but against the risk avoided. Using a representative is an additional investment, but it turns an administrative act into a defensible legal asset.

What financial aid is available to reduce the cost of trademark filing?

Several programs allow the amount effectively paid for a trademark filing with the INPI to be reduced. These programs are primarily aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises, founders, and social-economy structures. Knowing them before filing can significantly reduce the initial financial burden, and some programs can be combined.

The amounts shown below are indicative ranges, subject to change depending on calls for proposals and prevailing regional policies. The exact conditions should be checked with each organization before submitting an application.

The INPI fee reduction for individuals and small entities is activated directly at online filing: no prior step is required, provided the status is correctly declared. For Bpifrance vouchers, by contrast, the application must be filed before any advisory fees are incurred, otherwise the benefit is lost.

Regional support varies widely from one territory to another, both in eligibility conditions and in amounts. Some regions reserve their programs for the first filing of industrial property titles, while others open them to extensions of protection. It is therefore useful to check the availability of these programs with the regional INPI office or the local economic agency before initiating any procedure. Romain Waiss-Moreau can help companies identify the programs applicable to their situation, so that the overall cost of trademark filing with the INPI is controlled from the outset.

Key takeaways on the cost of trademark filing with the INPI

The official INPI rate remains accessible, but the real cost incurred when filing a trademark with the INPI depends closely on the number of classes selected and the quality of the preparatory work. The prior-rights search and the precise selection of classes are the two decisive levers: an under-targeted filing exposes the applicant to refusal, third-party opposition, or future revocation for non-use. Neglecting these steps can turn a modest investment into a costly dispute.

Romain Waiss-Moreau intervenes at each stage of this procedure, from the analysis of prior rights to the drafting of the filing file, in order to secure protection from the priority date. Contact Romain Waiss-Moreau to assess your situation and structure your trademark strategy on solid foundations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the INPI fee to file a trademark in several classes?

The official INPI rates provide for a base fee covering the first class of the Nice Classification, then an additional fee for each extra class. The total amount therefore depends directly on the number of classes selected at filing. Limiting the scope to the classes strictly necessary for your activity is the most effective way to control the total expense. To learn the exact rates in force, the official INPI website publishes the updated scale.

How can you check the availability of your trademark name before filing?

The INPI Trademarks database, available online, allows a search by name on trademarks registered or filed in France. This search remains indicative: it does not cover unregistered prior rights, such as trade names or well-known designations. A prior-rights analysis conducted by a trademark law professional integrates these complementary sources and assesses the likelihood of confusion within the meaning of article L. 713-2 of the French Intellectual Property Code.

How long does the protection of a trademark filed with the INPI last?

In accordance with article L. 712-1 of the French Intellectual Property Code, registration takes effect from the filing date for a period of ten years, indefinitely renewable. Renewal must be requested before the expiration of each ten-year period, provided the sign is not modified and the list of goods and services is not extended.

Does filing a trademark with the INPI also protect the logo?

Yes, provided that the logo is expressly included in the registration application. A filing can cover a word mark (the name alone), a figurative mark (the logo alone), or a semi-figurative mark (name and logo combined). Each form constitutes a separate title. Filing only the name does not confer protection on the associated graphic representation, and vice versa. Depending on the planned commercial strategy, Romain Waiss-Moreau can help you determine the filing format best suited to your assets.