March 17, 2025
Germany and China have fostered deep and enduring economic ties, with innovation and trade at the heart of their partnership. As a cornerstone of this robust relationship, Germany’s patent system plays a pivotal role in supporting innovation-driven businesses. Yet, a curious trend persists: while companies from many leading economies, such as the United States and Japan, have long recognized the strategic advantages of filing directly with the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), Chinese applicants continue to rely predominantly on the European Patent Office (EPO).
Could Chinese applicants be missing out on the strategic advantages of Germany’s patent system?
As Europe’s largest economy and a central hub for trade and business, Germany offers unparalleled benefits for patent protection. Filing directly with the DPMA – not the EPO – can provide Chinese companies with substantial cost savings, procedural flexibility, and a competitive edge in Europe’s most critical market for patent enforcement.
In a recent article for China IP, 2SPL partner Klaus Platzer and our China expert Mingyan Xi explore why the DPMA should play a role in the European patent strategies of Chinese applicants and how it can serve as a gateway to success in the European market.