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How does conversion between EU trademarks and national trademarks work?

Senior Trademark Attorney

Conversion is a procedure that allows an EU trademark application or registration to be converted into national trademark applications in individual EU member states. It preserves the original EUIPO filing date for each resulting national application.

Conversion is available where an EU trademark is refused, declared invalid, or surrendered; situations where the unitary nature of the EU trademark works against the applicant. For example, if an EU trademark is refused because of a conflicting national mark in one member state, the applicant can convert the EU application into national applications in the remaining member states where no conflict exists, retaining the original priority date in each.

The reverse process; converting a national trademark into an EU trademark; is not available. A fresh EUIPO application is required.

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