Technical requirements for attachments to electronic filing and communication
NB: the official source of this information can be found in the ‘Conditions of Use of the User Area’ annexed to ‘Decision EX-20-9 of the Executive Director of the Office of 3 November 2020 concerning communication by electronic means’.
- European Union trade mark application e filing
Where the representation of an EUTM application is provided electronically, the size of the electronic file is the following:
- maximum size per attachment: 2 MB (20 MB for MP4, OBJ, STL and X3D);
- maximum total size of attachments: 20 MB;
- name length restriction for attachment files: 25 characters.
Where the representation of an EUTM application is provided electronically, the formats of the electronic file are the following:
(a) JPEG
This is the standard file format to be used for representing the mark applied for (available for all trade mark types except for word and multimedia marks), and should conform to the following standards:- maximum image size: 2835 x 2010 pixels;
- printing resolution: min 96, max 300 DPI;
- colour mode: RGB, Grayscale, BW or CMYK.
Images are automatically scaled to 250 x 250 pixels. The uploaded image will be displayed as it will appear later in the registration certificate.
CMYK images will be converted before being displayed into RGB images using specific software for the conversion. In some CMYK images converted to RGB, certain colours might look different from the original. Therefore, it is advisable to change the colour mode before uploading the image in order to keep its original colours.
(b) MP3:
This file format can be used when applying for the registration of a sound mark (together with JPEG), and should conform to the following requirements:- sampling rate: 8 kHz for voice only, 11.025 kHz for sound effects, 22.05 kHz or 44.1 kHz for music;
- bit depth: 8 or 16 bits;
- channels: 1=Mono; 2=Stereo.
(c) OBJ, STL and X3D:
These file formats can be used when applying for the registration of a shape mark.X3D cannot be uploaded using Internet Explorer under version 11.
(d) MP4:
This file format can be used when applying for the registration of motion, multimedia and hologram marks, and should conform to the following requirements:- ISO standard: ISO/IEC 14496‑14:2003 (MPEG‑4 Part 14);
- video codecs: MP4 accepts different video codecs (MPEG‑1, MPEG‑2, MPEG‑4, VP6, VP5, H.263, etc), but the recommended codec to use is H.264;
- audio codecs: MP4 accepts different audio codecs (MP3, MP2, WMA, WMA Pro, PCM, WAV) but the recommended codec to use is AAC‑LC;
- frame rate between 24 and 30 fps;
- a bit rate between 1 200 and 8 000 Kbps;
- media types: video/MP4, audio/MP4, application/MP4.
- Registered Community design e filing
Where the representation of an RCD application is provided electronically, the size of the electronic file is the following:
- maximum size per attachment: 2 MB (20 MB for OBJ, STL and X3D);
- maximum total size of attachments: 20 MB;
- name length restriction for attachment files: 25 characters.
Where the representation of an RCD application is provided electronically, the formats of the electronic file are the following:
(a) JPEG
This is the standard file format to be used for representing the design applied for, and should conform to the following standards:- maximum image size: 5000 x 5000 pixels;
- printing resolution: min 72, max 300 DPI;
- colour modes: CMYK (which will be converted to RGB), Grayscale, BW or RGB;
- JPEG progressive images will be converted to baseline images;
- uploading of 3D dynamic views AND other static views is restricted.
(b) OBJ, STL and X3D
These formats can be used to upload one 3D dynamic view for additional information and as a source for static images when registering designs.X3D cannot be uploaded using Internet Explorer under version 11.
- Opposition and cancellation e filing
File size restrictions:
- maximum size per attachment: 5 MB;
- maximum total size for attachments: 20 MB;
- name length restriction for attachment files: 150 characters.
Accepted file types:
JPEG
Standard file type must be used that conforms to the following standards:- maximum image size: 2008 x 2835 pixels;
- printing resolution: min 96, max 300 DPI;
- only RGB 8b (not CMYK);
- JPEG progressive images are not supported.
PDF
Only standard, static PDF files are accepted. Fillable PDF forms and PDF files that include added objects (such as signatures, redacted (blacked-out) text, highlighted text, arrows) are not accepted. Be advised that during the upload process added objects will be lost and the original document without these objects may be disclosed to other parties to the proceedings or become publicly accessible via an application for inspection of files.”
MP3
To be used only to represent earlier sound marks and should conform to the following requirements:- sampling rate: 8 kHz for voice only, 11.025 kHz for sound effects, 22.05 kHz or 44.1 kHz for music;
- bit depth: 8 or 16 bits;
- channels: 1=Mono; 2=Stereo.
- Other e filing (for filing a request for recordal, renewal, conversion, inspection, international application based on an EUTM(A) or an appeal)
File size restrictions:
- maximum size per attachment: 2 MB (20 MB for e Appeal);
- maximum total size of attachments: 20 MB.
Accepted file types:
JPEG
Standard file type must be used that conforms to the following standards- printing resolution: min 96, max 300 DPI
- only RGB 8b (not CMYK)
- JPEG progressive images are not supported
PDF
Only standard, static PDF files are accepted. Fillable PDF forms and PDF files that include added objects (such as signatures, redacted (blacked-out) text, highlighted text, arrows) are not accepted. Be advised that during the upload process added objects will be lost and the original document without these objects may be disclosed to other parties to the proceedings or become publicly accessible via an application for inspection of files.”MP3
To be used only to represent sound marks and should conform to the following requirements:- sampling rate: 8 kHz for voice only, 11.025 kHz for sound effects, 22.05 kHz or 44.1 kHz for music;
- bit depth: 8 or 16 bits;
- channels: 1=Mono; 2=Stereo.
- Other electronic communication and actions
File size restrictions:
- maximum size per attachment: 20 MB;
- maximum total size of attachments: 1 GB (100 MB for opposition, cancellation and appeal communications);
- name length restriction for attachment files: 20 characters.
If the total size of the communication with attachments is larger than 20 MB, the attachments will still be received by the Office but only the communication will be displayed in the preview and the final receipt.
Accepted file types:
JPEG
Standard file type must be used that conforms to the following standards:- printing resolution: min 96, max 300 DPI;
- only RGB 8b (not CMYK);
- JPEG progressive images are not supported.
PDF
Only standard, static PDF files are accepted. Fillable PDF forms and PDF files that include added objects (such as signatures, redacted (blacked-out) text, highlighted text, arrows) are not accepted. Be advised that during the upload process added objects will be lost and the original document without these objects may be disclosed to other parties to the proceedings or become publicly accessible via an application for inspection of files.”MP3
Standard MP3 files should be used and should conform to the following requirements:- sampling rate: 8 kHz for voice only, 11.025 kHz for sound effects, 22.05 kHz or 44.1 kHz for music;
- bit depth: 8 or 16 bits;
- channels: 1=Mono; 2=Stereo.
MP3 files will be acceptable attachments only in the following opposition e-actions:
- Submit additional facts
- Submit proof of use
- Submit other documents
MP4
Standard MP4 files should be used, and should conform to the following requirements:- ISO standard: ISO/IEC 14496‑14:2003 (MPEG‑4 Part 14);
- video codecs: MP4 accepts different video codecs (MPEG‑1, MPEG‑2, MPEG‑4, VP6, VP5, H.263, etc), but the recommended codec to use is H.264;
- audio codecs: MP4 accepts different audio codecs (MP3, MP2, WMA, WMA Pro, PCM, WAV) but the recommended codec to use is AAC‑LC;
- frame rate between 24 and 30 fps;
- a bit rate between 1 200 and 8 000 Kbps;
- media types: video/MP4, audio/MP4, application/MP4.
MP4 files will be acceptable attachments only in the following opposition e-actions:
- Submit additional facts
- Submit proof of use
- Submit other documents