(IP) Intellectual Property Lawyer

We advise businesses, creators and start-ups on protecting and enforcing intellectual property in the Netherlands: trademarks, copyright, trade names, designs and licences. We work in English and Dutch, for Dutch and international clients. The first step is a free introductory meeting in which we map which rights you hold and what you should register.

Clients rate Law & More 9.6 out of 10 on Klantenvertellen, the Dutch review platform (81 reviews, as of October 2026).

What can we help you with?

• you want to register a brand name or logo in the Benelux or the whole European Union;
• a competitor uses a name, logo or design that looks like yours;
• someone copies your photos, texts, software or website content;
• you receive a cease and desist letter and want to know whether the claim holds;
• you want to license or transfer intellectual property, or acquire it from a freelancer or agency;
• you are launching a product and want to check that you do not infringe existing rights;
• you want to know whether your invention can be patented and which route fits.

Which intellectual property rights exist in the Netherlands?

Some intellectual property rights arise automatically, such as copyright and trade name rights. Others, such as trademarks, registered designs and patents, only exist after registration.

Our article on intellectual property law in the Netherlands gives a broader overview of each right.

How do you protect your brand with a trademark?

You protect a brand by registering it with the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) or, for the whole EU, with EUIPO. The first applicant generally wins, so register before you launch.

A Benelux trademark covers the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. An EU trade mark covers all member states in one registration. Both apply to the goods and services you list, grouped in classes. Choose these carefully: protection does not extend beyond what you registered.

Before filing, check for earlier rights. Owners of earlier trademarks can file an opposition: within two months of publication at BOIP and within three months at EUIPO. A trademark must also be distinctive. Purely descriptive names, such as "Fresh Bakery" for bread, are usually refused.

After five years without genuine use, a trademark becomes vulnerable to revocation. Keep evidence of use, such as invoices and advertising, per country and per product.

How do copyright and trade names protect your business?

Copyright protects original works such as texts, photos, designs, software and websites from the moment they are created. A trade name protects the name under which you run your business, once you actually use it.

Copyright

Copyright is governed by the Dutch Copyright Act (Auteurswet). No registration is needed. Under Article 7, the employer owns the copyright in works an employee makes in the course of the job. A freelancer or agency keeps the copyright unless it is assigned by a signed deed (Article 2). Without that deed, you only have a right of use.

Trade names

The Trade Name Act (Handelsnaamwet) prohibits using a trade name that is confusingly similar to an earlier trade name. Location and type of business matter. Registration with the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KVK) does not by itself create a right; use does. A trade name does not protect a product brand, so register a trademark as well.

What should you know about patents and licences?

A patent protects a technical invention that is new, inventive and industrially applicable, for a maximum of 20 years. A licence lets someone else use your intellectual property under conditions you set, while you remain the owner.

A Dutch patent is granted by the Netherlands Patent Office, part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). A European patent is granted by the European Patent Office. Since 1 June 2023, a unitary patent has also been available, with disputes heard by the Unified Patent Court. Do not disclose your invention before filing, as publication can destroy novelty. For drafting the patent application itself you need a patent attorney; we advise on contracts, ownership and disputes.

A licence agreement should state the type (exclusive or non-exclusive), the territory, the duration, the fee and who enforces against infringers. An exclusive copyright licence must be in writing. Our article on the licence agreement lists what to include.

How do you act against infringement?

Enforcement usually starts with a cease and desist letter, followed by summary proceedings (kort geding) if the infringer does not stop. You can also claim damages or surrender of the profit made from the infringement.

Secure evidence first: screenshots with dates, purchases of infringing products and proof of your own rights. In serious cases, the court can allow an evidentiary seizure. In these cases, the loser usually pays the winner's reasonable and proportionate legal costs (Article 1019h of the Dutch Code of Civil Procedure). That cost risk applies to both sides, so a weak claim can be expensive.

In the Netherlands, disputes about EU trade marks and patents are heard by the District Court of The Hague in the first instance. Our guides on the cease and desist letter and enforcing intellectual property explain the steps. The full text of the Dutch Copyright Act is available on wetten.overheid.nl.

How does working with Law & More work?

1. Introductory meeting: you explain your brand, product or dispute, and we identify which rights are involved.
2. Advice and cost estimate: we assess protection, risks and options, and give you a cost estimate.
3. Approach and negotiation: we file registrations, draft licences, or send and answer cease and desist letters.
4. Proceedings or completion: if needed, we start or defend summary proceedings or proceedings on the merits.

What does an intellectual property lawyer cost?

Our hourly rate is 250 to 350 euros excluding VAT for a lawyer and 300 to 400 euros excluding VAT for a partner. We discuss the rate and an estimate in advance. The introductory meeting is free of charge. A one-off advice meeting without further assistance costs 300 euros including VAT.

Official fees of BOIP or EUIPO, court fees and bailiff costs are charged separately. Legal aid exists via the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand), but we do not work on that basis.

Who handles your case?

Your case is handled by one of our lawyers; in the introductory meeting you will hear who. You can see everyone on our team page. For software and IT contracts, see also our IT lawyer page.

Frequently asked questions

Is my company name automatically protected as a trademark?

No. Using a company name creates a trade name right, which protects the name of your business against confusing use. It does not protect the name as a brand for products or services. For that, you need a registered trademark with BOIP or EUIPO. Many businesses register their trade name as a trademark as well.

Who owns the logo or website an agency made for me?

The agency or freelancer keeps the copyright unless it is assigned to you by a signed deed. Paying the invoice does not transfer ownership. Without an assignment, you only have a right of use, whose scope follows from the agreement. Arrange a written assignment, preferably before the work starts.

What does an intellectual property lawyer do when I receive a cease and desist letter?

An intellectual property lawyer checks whether the sender actually holds a valid right and whether your use infringes it. Do not sign an undertaking with penalty clauses before that check. Sometimes the claim is unfounded or too broad. Respond within the deadline in the letter, as silence can lead to summary proceedings.

How long does trademark registration at BOIP take?

If no opposition is filed and BOIP raises no objection, registration usually follows a few months after filing. Earlier trademark owners have two months from publication to oppose. An opposition can add months to the process. Your filing date secures your priority from the start.

Can I claim damages for copyright infringement?

Yes. You can claim compensation for the damage suffered, for example a reasonable licence fee for the use. Alternatively, you can claim surrender of the profit the infringer made. You can also ask the court to order the infringer to stop, with a penalty for each breach.

Do you also apply for patents?

No. A patent application is drafted by a patent attorney with technical training. We advise on patent ownership, licences and confidentiality agreements before filing. We also assist in disputes about infringement or about who owns an invention, for example between an employer and an employee. We can work alongside your patent attorney, so that the technical and legal sides are aligned.

In doubt about your position? Tell us about your situation. We will let you know within one working day what your options are. Contact us, call +31 40 369 06 80 or e-mail info@lawandmore.nl.

Law & More, Marconilaan 13, 5612 HM Eindhoven (+31 40 369 06 80) and visiting location Pietersbergweg 291, 1105 BM Amsterdam (+31 20 369 71 21). Available Monday to Friday 08:00-22:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00-17:00.

This page provides general information and does not replace advice on your specific situation.