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Trademarks are the signs that identify your products or services and distinguish them from competitors. In Vouliagmeni - a coastal area within the municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni in the Athens Riviera - strong brands are central to sectors like hospitality, tourism, wellness, yachting, real estate, food and beverage, and luxury retail. Trademark protection in Vouliagmeni follows Greek national law and European Union rules. There is no separate local trademark system for Vouliagmeni, so your choices are a Greek national trademark, a European Union Trade Mark that covers all EU member states, or an international registration that designates Greece or the EU through the Madrid System.
Greece protects words, logos, slogans, shapes, colors, patterns, sounds, multimedia and other signs that can be represented in a clear and precise way and that are capable of distinguishing goods or services. Registration grants exclusive rights to use the mark for the listed goods or services, to stop confusingly similar uses by others, and to license or assign the mark as a business asset.
You might need legal help with trademark matters in situations such as selecting a new brand and conducting clearance searches to avoid conflicts, filing a national, EU, or international application with the correct specification of goods and services, responding to office actions that raise objections on distinctiveness or descriptiveness, handling oppositions or negotiating coexistence agreements, enforcing your rights against counterfeiters or copycats online and offline, coordinating customs recordals to block counterfeit imports, drafting and recording license or assignment agreements, aligning your trademark protection with franchise or distribution deals, managing domain name conflicts involving .gr or international domains, and planning a protection strategy tailored to the Athens market while ensuring EU coverage where appropriate.
A local lawyer or trademark attorney who practices in Athens can help you navigate procedures in Greek, meet formalities and deadlines, assess risks for hospitality and tourism specific branding, and represent you before the Greek Trademarks Office, EUIPO, Greek courts, customs, and administrative bodies.
Greek trademark law is primarily set out in Law 4679-2020, which implemented EU Directive 2015-2436 and modernized national rules. For EU-wide protection, the European Union Trade Mark Regulation applies. Greece follows the Nice Classification for goods and services and allows multi-class applications. No prior use is required to file. After filing, the application is examined for absolute grounds and then published. There is a three-month opposition period from publication. If there is no successful opposition, the mark proceeds to registration.
A registered Greek trademark lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed indefinitely in 10-year increments. If a trademark is not put to genuine use for five consecutive years, it can be revoked for non-use unless there are proper reasons for non-use. Relative grounds disputes with earlier rights are usually resolved through opposition or in court. Remedies include injunctions, damages, recall and destruction of infringing goods, and publication of judgment. Preliminary injunctions are available in urgent cases.
In practice, businesses in Vouliagmeni often choose between a Greek trademark that secures protection nationally and an EU trademark that covers the entire European Union. Greek courts in Athens have specialized divisions that handle IP cases. Greek customs can detain suspected counterfeit goods based on an application for customs action, and criminal enforcement is available for serious counterfeiting.
Trademarks coexist with other identifiers like company names and trade names, and unfair competition rules can supplement protection. Company name registration at the General Commercial Registry does not replace trademark registration. Domain names under .gr are regulated at the national level and disputes can be brought before administrative bodies or courts, often with trademark rights as the key prior right.
You can file a Greek national trademark covering all of Greece, an EU trademark that protects in all EU member states including Greece, or an international registration via the Madrid System designating Greece or the EU. The right choice depends on where you trade now and plan to expand in the next few years, your budget, and your risk profile.
Timeframes vary with workload and whether objections or oppositions arise. A smooth Greek filing can often proceed to registration in several months, while contested cases can take longer. EU trademark timelines are similar, with speed depending on whether there are objections or oppositions.
No. Greece and the EU do not require use before filing. However, after registration, trademarks become vulnerable to revocation if not put to genuine use for five consecutive years for the goods or services covered.
Applicants without a domicile or principal place of business in the European Economic Area generally must appoint a representative. Even for EEA-based applicants, using a lawyer or trademark attorney is advisable to avoid mistakes in classifications, descriptions, and strategy.
Oppositions can be filed within three months from the publication date of the application. If an opposition is filed, the case proceeds through administrative proceedings that can include evidence and argument, and may settle through negotiation or coexistence agreements.
Registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed every 10 years indefinitely. Renewal windows and late renewal with surcharge are available. Keeping accurate portfolio records helps avoid missed renewals.
Words, logos, slogans, shapes, colors, patterns, position marks, sounds, and multimedia signs can be protected if they are distinctive and can be represented clearly and precisely. Generic or purely descriptive terms for your goods or services are likely to be refused.
Yes. You can use takedown procedures on major platforms, send cease and desist letters, seek preliminary and permanent injunctions in Greek courts, and file customs applications to block imports of counterfeit goods. Evidence gathering and swift action are important in seasonal markets like the Athens Riviera.
No. Company names and domain names serve different functions. They can support your position, but they do not replace a registered trademark. If brand protection matters to your business, file a trademark and align it with your company name and domain strategy.
Greek national applications are filed in Greek. EU trademark applications can be filed in EUIPO languages with a second language choice. If you rely on foreign documents or agreements in Greek proceedings, certified translations may be required. Local counsel can manage language and certification issues.
Greek Trademarks Office - Directorate of Trademarks, Ministry of Development and Investments. This is the authority that examines and registers national trademarks in Greece.
European Union Intellectual Property Office. This is the EU body for EU trademarks that cover all member states.
World Intellectual Property Organization - Madrid System. This is the international system that allows a single filing designating multiple countries or regions, including Greece and the EU.
General Commercial Registry GEMI. This is the registry for company names and corporate records in Greece, which should be coordinated with your trademark strategy.
Greek Customs Authorities. These authorities accept applications for customs action to seize counterfeit goods at the border.
Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission EETT and the .gr Registry. These bodies regulate .gr domain names and related dispute procedures.
Athens Bar Association and professional IP associations in Greece. These can help you locate experienced trademark counsel in the Athens area.
Clarify your commercial plan in Vouliagmeni and beyond, including target customers, key channels, and expansion timeline. Based on that, decide whether national, EU, or international protection is appropriate.
List your goods and services and map them to the Nice Classification. Be specific and accurate, since your protection is tied to what you claim.
Order clearance searches for identical and similar marks in Greece and the EU. Include checks for company names, domains, and unregistered uses in your sector.
Consult an Athens-based trademark lawyer to review search results, refine your filing strategy, and prepare the application in Greek where needed. Agree on budget, timelines, and monitoring arrangements.
File the application, monitor publication, and be ready to respond to office actions or oppositions. Consider negotiation or coexistence where risk is manageable.
Once registered, use your mark correctly, record licenses or assignments, set calendar reminders for renewal, and put monitoring and enforcement plans in place, including customs recordals before peak seasons.
If a dispute arises, gather evidence of use, advertising, and confusion promptly. Your lawyer can seek urgent interim measures in Athens courts when necessary.
This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. For advice on your specific situation in Vouliagmeni or elsewhere in Greece, consult a qualified trademark professional.
