Intellectual Property France 2025 | Trademarks, Patents, Copyright

Intellectual Property in France

France offers a solid framework for intellectual property protection, via INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property) and European systems. The IP box tax regime makes France attractive for exploiting intellectual assets.

The main IP rights in France are: trademarks, patents, copyright, designs and models, and trade secrets.

Trademarks

French Trademark (INPI)

INPI is the national office for trademarks, patents, and designs in France.

Aspect	French Trademark	EU Trademark
Office	INPI (Paris)	EUIPO (Alicante)
Territory	France only	27 EU countries
Cost (1 class)	~€190	~€850
Duration	10 years renewable	10 years renewable
Procedure	~4-5 months	~5-6 months

Trademark Filing Steps

Prior rights search: Verify the trademark doesn't already exist (INPI database, TMview)
Classification: Determine product/service classes (Nice classification)
Filing: Online form via INPI portal
Examination: Verification of formal and substantive conditions
Publication: In BOPI, opposition possible for 2 months
Registration: Trademark certificate issued by INPI

Patents

French patents can be filed at INPI, or you can opt for a European patent (EPO) or Unitary Patent.

Protection Routes

French patent (INPI): National protection only
European patent (EPO): Designation of France among chosen countries
Unitary patent (UPC): Uniform protection in 17+ participating EU countries
PCT: International application facilitating national filings

Patentability Conditions

Novelty: Not disclosed before filing
Inventive step: Not obvious to a person skilled in the art
Industrial application: Capable of industrial use

Copyright

Copyright automatically protects any original work without registration formality (art. L.111-1 Intellectual Property Code).

Aspect	Details
Protected works	Texts, music, images, software, databases, architecture
Condition	Originality (imprint of author's personality)
Formality	None (automatic protection)
Duration	Author's life + 70 years
Economic rights	Reproduction, representation, distribution
Moral rights	Attribution, integrity, disclosure, withdrawal (perpetual and inalienable)

Proof of Creation

Soleau envelope (INPI): €15, proof of creation date (5 years)
Bailiff deposit: Authentic deed with certain date
Blockchain timestamping: Increasingly used digital proof
Registered mail to yourself: Light proof but useful

French IP Box

The French IP box tax regime (article 238 CGI) allows reduced taxation on intellectual property income.

Aspect	Details
Effective rate	~10% (instead of 25% corporate tax)
Eligible IP	Patents, protected software, plant variety certificates, secret manufacturing processes
Nexus condition	Link between French R&D expenses and IP income
Covered income	Royalties, capital gains, income embedded in sale price
Documentation	Detailed documentation of R&D expenses and nexus ratio calculation

Designs and Models

Protection of the external appearance of a product (shapes, lines, colors, textures).

French design (INPI): ~€39, France protection only
Community design (EUIPO): ~€350, EU protection
Duration: 5 years renewable up to 25 years
Unregistered EU design: 3 years automatic protection

Fight Against Counterfeiting

Saisie-contrefaçon: Ex parte procedure to gather evidence
Summary proceedings (référé): Urgent cessation measures, sequestration
Full action: Before TJ Paris (specialized IP court)
Damages: Actual harm, infringer's profits, or reasonable royalty
Customs detention: Request for intervention with customs (EU regulation)
Criminal: Counterfeiting = punishable offense (up to 3 years imprisonment, €300,000 fine)

Frequently Asked Questions

How to file a trademark in France?

In France, file a French trademark with INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property). Cost: ~€190 for one class (additional class: €40). Online procedure via INPI portal. Duration: 10 years renewable indefinitely. Alternative: EU trademark (EUIPO) for protection in 27 European countries (~€850).

How to protect an invention in France?

File a French patent with INPI. Cost: €3,000-10,000 with patent attorney. Duration: max 20 years (annual fees). Conditions: novelty, inventive step, industrial application. Alternatives: European patent (EPO) designating France, or Unitary Patent (2023). Software as such is not patentable.

Does copyright require registration in France?

No, copyright arises automatically upon creation of the original work, without formality (art. L.111-1 IP Code). Protection: author's life + 70 years. Coverage: literary, artistic, musical works, software, databases. Advice: keep proof of creation date (Soleau envelope at INPI, bailiff deposit, blockchain timestamping).

What is the French IP box regime?

The French IP box regime (art. 238 CGI) allows reduced taxation on income from patents, copyright-protected software, and plant variety certificates. Effective rate: about 10% instead of 25%. Conditions: own development or substantial improvement, nexus approach (R&D expenses/IP income ratio).

How to protect a design in France?

File with INPI for national protection, or EUIPO for EU protection. Conditions: novelty and individual character. Duration: 5 years renewable up to 25 years max. INPI cost: ~€39 per design. Protection: external appearance of a product (shapes, colors, textures). Unregistered EU designs benefit from 3-year protection.

What to do in case of counterfeiting in France?

Possible actions: 1) Cease and desist letter by lawyer, 2) Saisie-contrefaçon (judicial evidence gathering), 3) Summary proceedings for urgent measures (cessation, sequestration), 4) Full action for damages before TJ Paris (specialized IP court). Customs: request for detention of counterfeiting goods (EU regulation 608/2013).

How to protect a domain name and trademark together?

Recommended strategy: 1) Check trademark availability (INPI, EUIPO, TMview) AND domain name, 2) File the trademark first (stronger right), 3) Register domain names (.fr, .com, .eu). In case of cybersquatting: UDRP procedure (generic domains), SYRELI procedure for .fr. Prior trademark takes precedence over domain name.

Are APIs and software protectable in France?

Software is protected by copyright (art. L.112-2 IP Code, no formality). APIs as interfaces are generally not protected. Source code is protected, but functionalities and ideas are not. Possible patent protection if underlying technical invention. Trade secrets law (2018) can also protect non-public code.