In early 2026, the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) warned of a significant increase in bad-faith trademark applications. For Chinese sellers on Amazon Germany, this is not just a warning — it is an active threat.
1. Why Germany Is a Target
Germany has one of Europe's largest e-commerce markets. The DPMA registration process is relatively fast (6-9 months) and inexpensive (~€300 base fee). This makes it a popular target for trademark squatters who register popular brand names in Germany before the actual brand owners do.
2. How Squatters Operate
- Monitor Amazon Germany best seller lists in various categories.
- Identify Chinese brands that are selling well but have not registered in Germany.
- File trademark applications in Germany for these brand names.
- Once registered, send cease-and-desist letters demanding payment for the trademark assignment.
3. Defense Strategies
Preventive: register your trademark in Germany BEFORE you start selling on Amazon Germany. The cost of registration (€300-500) is tiny compared to the cost of recovering a squatted trademark.
Reactive: if your trademark has already been squatted, you can file a cancellation action based on bad faith under Section 50 of the German Trademark Act. You will need evidence that the squatter filed in bad faith and that you have prior rights.
4. Summary
German trademark squatting is a real and growing problem for Amazon sellers. The best defense is early registration — file your German trademark before you launch your products. If you have already been squatted, you can still fight back using bad faith cancellation actions.