Intellectual Property lawyers in Greece (EU)

When hiring an intellectual property lawyer in Greece, look for these key qualifications:

• Registration with the Athens or Thessaloniki Bar Association
• Certification to practice before the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI)
• Experience with both Greek IP law and EU regulations
• Proven track record in your specific IP area (patents, trademarks, copyright)
• Language capabilities (Greek, English, and potentially other languages)
• Industry-specific experience relevant to your business sector

Many qualified IP attorneys in Greece have offices in Athens’ business district or Thessaloniki’s commercial center, with some maintaining EU-wide capabilities.

The patent application process in Greece follows these steps:

1. Filing application with the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI) in Marousi, Athens
2. Formal examination (no substantive examination unlike some EU countries)
3. Publication after 18 months
4. Grant of patent (valid for 20 years)

The key difference is that Greece conducts only formal examinations, not substantive ones like the European Patent Office. Greek patent attorneys typically recommend parallel filing with the EPO for stronger protection. National applications cost less but provide protection only within Greece, while European patents validated in Greece offer broader protection at higher cost.

The main hubs for trademark registration services in Greece are:

• Athens – primarily in the central business district and Marousi area, where the Trademark Office is located
• Thessaloniki – concentrated in the commercial center near the Chamber of Commerce
• Patras – serving western Greece’s business community
• Heraklion – providing services for Crete and surrounding islands

Most trademark attorneys in Greece maintain offices in Athens due to proximity to the Trademark Office, though many firms offer services nationwide. The Greek Trademark Office itself is centralized in Athens, handling all official trademark registrations for the country.

A business needs copyright protection services from a Greek attorney for several practical reasons:

1. To secure rights for creative works produced in Greece
2. To enforce copyright against infringement in Greek markets
3. To navigate Greece’s Law 2121/1993 on copyright protection
4. To handle disputes in Greek courts when violations occur
5. To establish proper licensing agreements under Greek law

Greek copyright attorneys provide particular value for businesses in Athens’ growing software industry, Thessaloniki’s publishing sector, and the nationwide tourism and cultural industries. They help address the specific nuances of Greek copyright law while ensuring alignment with broader EU directives.

The industries in Greece that most frequently require patent attorney services are:

• Pharmaceutical research and development, particularly in Athens and Thessaloniki
• Agricultural technology and food processing across rural regions
• Information technology and software development in Athens’ innovation districts
• Renewable energy technologies, especially solar innovations in southern regions
• Maritime and shipping technologies centered in Piraeus and island communities

These industries regularly engage patent attorneys in Greece to protect innovations, secure competitive advantages, and enable commercialization of research. The pharmaceutical sector is especially active, with numerous patent applications filed annually through attorneys based primarily in Athens.

IP protection service fees in Athens typically run 10-15% higher than in other Greek cities due to:

1. Higher operational costs in the capital city
2. Greater concentration of experienced attorneys
3. Proximity to government IP offices reducing client travel expenses
4. More international firms with higher rate structures

For example, trademark registration through an attorney in Athens might cost €800-1,200, while similar services in Thessaloniki range from €700-1,000. Patent application services follow similar patterns, with Athens-based attorneys generally commanding premium rates. However, many clients find value in Athens-based services due to direct access to the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation and Greek Trademark Office located there.