How to Trademark a Name in Greece (2026), OBI Steps, POA & EU vs National Routes

Last reviewed: 20 May 2026

If you need to know how to trademark a name in Greece, 2026 is a year of meaningful change. The publication of Law 5271/2026 on 30 January 2026 introduced enhanced criminal and administrative sanctions for IP-related offences, strengthening enforcement across the country’s intellectual-property landscape. At the same time, the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI), Greece’s national trademark office, continues to refine its electronic filing channels, while the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the WIPO Madrid System offer alternative routes for applicants whose ambitions extend beyond Greek borders.

This guide walks you through every practical step: running a trademark availability check, preparing the correct power of attorney (POA) and translations, choosing between a national, EU or international filing, understanding the fees and timelines you will face, and knowing what to do if someone opposes your mark.

Quick answer: To trademark a name in Greece you file a national application at OBI (online or on paper), selecting your Nice classes, attaching a POA if you use a representative, and paying the official filing fee, the entire process typically takes several months from application to registration certificate, assuming no opposition.

Should You File in Greece (OBI), at EUIPO (EU TM) or via Madrid? How to Trademark a Name in Greece, the Decision Tree

Before you prepare any paperwork, the single most important strategic decision is where to file. Greece-based applicants and foreign businesses targeting the Greek market can choose from three routes, each with distinct territorial reach, cost profiles and procedural nuances. The comparison table below sets out the key differences side by side.

A national OBI filing is the fastest, most affordable option if your brand is active only in Greece. An EU Trade Mark (EUTM) through EUIPO makes sense when you sell, or plan to sell, goods or services across the single market, because one registration gives you unitary protection in all 27 member states. The Madrid Protocol route, administered by WIPO, is the pragmatic choice when you need coverage in a mix of EU and non-EU countries (for example, Greece plus Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States).

Short decision checklist

• Choose OBI (national) if your business operates exclusively in Greece, you want the lowest official filing fee, and you need a quick priority date.
• Choose EUIPO (EU trade mark) if you sell or plan to sell across multiple EU member states, one application, one fee, one right covering all 27 countries.
• Choose Madrid (WIPO) if you need trademark protection in a combination of EU and non-EU jurisdictions and want to manage renewals through a single international registration.

Before You File, Trademark Availability Checks & Choosing Classes

Running a thorough Greece trademark search before you invest in an application is non-negotiable. A conflict with an earlier mark can lead to opposition, refusal or costly rebranding. Here is a practical search checklist.

• OBI availability check. Use the search function on the OBI trademarks availability-check page to search existing Greek national marks by word element, holder name or registration number.
• TMview. The free TMview database aggregates records from OBI, EUIPO, WIPO and dozens of other offices, letting you run a single cross-office search.
• EUIPO trademark search. If you are considering an EU filing, search the EUIPO database for identical and similar EUTMs and national marks forwarded to the EU registry.
• WIPO Global Brand Database. The WIPO Brand Database covers international registrations under the Madrid Protocol, essential if your name is common across borders.

Choosing trademark classes

Greece follows the international Nice Classification of goods and services. Your application must list the specific classes relevant to your commercial activity. Common pitfalls include filing in too few classes (leaving gaps competitors can exploit) or too many (inflating fees and creating non-use vulnerability). Carefully describe the goods and services within each class using precise wording aligned with the Nice class headings. If your brand name is purely descriptive of the goods, for example, “Fresh Olives” for olive products, it is likely to be refused on absolute grounds. Distinctive, coined or suggestive names enjoy far stronger protection.

Trademarks vs copyright vs trade names, choosing the right IP tool

A trademark protects a sign that distinguishes commercial goods or services. Copyright protects original literary, artistic or scientific works and arises automatically upon creation, no registration at OBI is required. A trade name (registered at the local Chamber of Commerce or General Commercial Registry / GEMI) identifies a business entity but does not, on its own, provide the exclusive nationwide right to use a brand on goods or services. For comprehensive brand protection, register a trademark at OBI (or EUIPO) in addition to securing your company name.

Step-by-Step OBI (National) Filing Process, How to Trademark a Name in Greece Through Forms, Evidence & POA

The national route through the Greece trademark office, OBI Greece, is straightforward once you understand the sequence. Below is a practical walkthrough current as of May 2026.

Step 1, Prepare your mark. Decide whether you are filing a word mark (text only), a figurative mark (logo or stylised text), or a combination mark. If filing a figurative or combination mark, prepare a clear graphic reproduction in the format accepted by OBI (typically JPEG, at least 8 cm × 8 cm).

Step 2, Select your Nice classes and draft your goods/services specification. List the classes and write clear descriptions of the goods or services for each class. Use the accepted class-heading terminology or specific descriptors consistent with OBI’s practice.

Step 3, Run your trademark availability check. Search OBI, TMview and, where relevant, the EUIPO and WIPO databases as described above. Document the results for your file.

Step 4, Complete the application form. OBI accepts applications filed electronically through its online platform or on paper submitted in person or by post to the OBI offices in Athens. The Gov.gr filing-and-registration page provides guidance on the submission channels and the required accompanying documents.

Step 5, Attach the required supporting documents. See the required-documents table below.

Step 6, Pay the official filing fee. Payment is made at the time of filing. The fee depends on the number of classes selected.

Step 7, OBI conducts a formalities examination (completeness, fee payment, mark reproduction quality), followed by a substantive examination on absolute grounds (distinctiveness, descriptiveness, deceptiveness, public-order conflicts). OBI does not refuse applications ex officio on relative grounds, that is left to third-party opposition.

Step 8, Publication. If the application passes examination, it is published in the OBI Industrial Property Bulletin. Third parties then have a three-month opposition window.

Step 9, Registration. If no opposition is filed (or any opposition is resolved in the applicant’s favour), OBI issues the registration certificate. The trademark is protected for ten years from the filing date and is renewable indefinitely in ten-year periods.

POA & signature rules for filing at OBI Greece

If you file through a representative, whether a Greek attorney or an authorised trademark agent, you must submit a power of attorney (POA). The POA must identify the applicant, the representative and the scope of authority (typically covering filing, prosecution and receipt of notifications). Foreign applicants who do not have a domicile or a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment within the European Economic Area will generally need to appoint a Greek-qualified representative.

Translation & certification requirements

The working language of OBI is Greek. Applications must be submitted in Greek, and any supporting documents originally drafted in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified Greek translation. POAs executed abroad typically need to be legalised (apostille or consular legalisation) and then translated into Greek by a certified translator. Failing to provide properly certified translations is one of the most common reasons for procedural delays at OBI.

Required documents checklist

Trademark Fees Greece, Official Timelines and What to Expect (National, EU, Madrid)

The table below summarises the principal official fees for each route. Always confirm the current amounts directly with the relevant office before filing, as fee schedules can change.

EUIPO fees verified at euipo.europa.eu as of May 2026. WIPO fees expressed in Swiss francs per the WIPO Madrid System schedule. OBI fees should be confirmed on the official OBI website at the time of filing.

In addition to official fees, most applicants engage an IP attorney whose professional fees vary. Industry observers expect typical attorney charges for a straightforward single-class Greek national filing (including searches, preparation and prosecution) to range roughly between €500 and €1,500, depending on complexity.

Timeline table, from filing to registration

Oppositions, Cancellations and Enforcement in Greece (Post-2026)

Once your trademark application is published, any third party who believes the mark conflicts with their earlier rights may file an opposition at OBI within the three-month opposition window. Grounds for opposition typically include likelihood of confusion with an earlier registered mark, bad faith, or the existence of a well-known mark in Greece. If you are on the receiving end of an opposition, you must file a defence within the prescribed deadline and present evidence and legal arguments before the OBI Administrative Trademark Committee.

The enforcement landscape after Law 5271/2026

Law No. 5271/2026, published in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Α΄ 11) on 30 January 2026, was primarily enacted to combat art forgery and the illicit trade in collectibles. It establishes a dedicated framework combining administrative and criminal regulation, with increased sanctions for the production, circulation, trade and possession of forged works. While its core subject matter is art and collectibles, early indications suggest that the law’s heightened penalty framework and institutional mechanisms will have broader practical implications for IP enforcement more generally, including trademark-related counterfeiting cases where forged goods intersect with the art and luxury-goods market.

Practitioners have noted that Law 5271/2026 expands the institutional toolkit available to enforcement authorities. For brand owners operating in sectors exposed to counterfeit luxury goods or branded collectibles, the likely practical effect will be a stronger deterrent against large-scale counterfeiting operations. Civil remedies remain available in parallel: trademark holders may seek preliminary injunctions, provisional measures and full damages proceedings before the Greek civil courts.

Practical checklist for responding to an opposition

• Read the opposition notice carefully. Identify the grounds cited, the earlier marks relied upon and the deadline for filing your response.
• Assess the merits. Compare the marks (visual, phonetic, conceptual similarity), the goods/services overlap and the distinctiveness of the earlier mark.
• File your defence within the deadline. Missing the deadline can result in the opposition being upheld by default.
• Consider settlement. Negotiated coexistence agreements or scope limitations can resolve conflicts faster and at lower cost than contested proceedings.
• Seek legal advice. Opposition proceedings involve complex legal and evidentiary issues, consult an intellectual-property specialist early.

Practical Tips, POA Providers, Representative Requirements, Translations & Common Danger Points

Understanding how to trademark a name in Greece means also knowing where applicants most often stumble. Below are the six most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

• Improper POA format. A POA that is not apostilled, not translated into Greek, or not signed by an authorised corporate officer will delay your application. Have your POA prepared and legalised well before the filing date.
• Missing certified translation. Every foreign-language document submitted to OBI must be accompanied by a certified Greek translation. Budget time and cost for sworn translation.
• Overly broad or vague class descriptions. Vague specifications invite objections. Use precise, internationally accepted terminology aligned with Nice Classification headings.
• Filing a descriptive mark. Marks that directly describe the goods (e.g., “Best Quality Coffee” for coffee products) will be refused on absolute grounds. Invest in a distinctive name.
• Ignoring the non-use cancellation risk. A Greek national trademark that is not genuinely used for a continuous period of five years after registration is vulnerable to cancellation. Plan to document use from day one, invoices, packaging, advertising and sales records all serve as evidence.
• Failing to monitor the register. After registration, watch for new filings that may conflict with your mark. OBI does not refuse later applications on relative grounds ex officio, you must take the initiative by filing an opposition.

Quick Checklist & Sample Timeline for a Greek National Trademark Filing

Use this condensed six-step checklist as a project plan for a straightforward single-class national filing at OBI.

1. Trademark availability check, search OBI, TMview and WIPO databases (Week 1).
2. Choose Nice classes and draft goods/services descriptions (Week 1–2).
3. Prepare documents, application form, mark reproduction, POA (if using representative), certified translations (Week 2–3).
4. File at OBI, submit online or on paper; pay official fee (Week 3–4).
5. OBI examination & publication, await formalities and substantive review; published in Industrial Property Bulletin (Months 2–5).
6. Opposition period & registration, three-month opposition window; if clear, registration certificate issued (Months 5–12).

Sample budget estimate (single-class national filing)

All cost estimates are indicative ranges based on general market observations as of May 2026. Actual costs depend on the specifics of each case.

When to Consult a Lawyer

While straightforward trademark filings in Greece can be managed with careful preparation, there are situations where professional legal guidance is essential:

• Your proposed mark is close to an existing registration and you need a conflict-risk assessment.
• You have received an opposition or a cancellation action against your mark.
• You are a foreign applicant unfamiliar with Greek procedural and translation requirements.
• You need a coordinated filing strategy across Greece, the EU and non-EU jurisdictions.
• You want to enforce your trademark against counterfeiters or pursue infringement proceedings.

Understanding how to trademark a name in Greece is the first step; securing lasting protection for your brand requires diligent preparation, accurate filings and ongoing monitoring. To connect with a qualified IP lawyer in Greece or explore the full range of intellectual property specialists in our global directory, visit Global Law Experts.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Trademark laws, fees and procedures can change. Always consult a qualified intellectual-property lawyer for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.

Sources

1. Gov.gr, Filing and Registration of Trade Mark
2. Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI), Trademarks
3. OBI, Trade Marks Availability Check
4. EUIPO, European Union Intellectual Property Office
5. WIPO, Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks
6. WIPO Global Brand Database
7. TMview, European Trademark Search
8. OPI, New Law No. 5271/2026 Summary
9. BernitsasLaw, Recent Developments in IP Legislation Regarding Law 5271/2026
10. JD Supra, A New Legal Framework for the Protection of Works of Art