Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen

What Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen does

Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen is the Danish national intellectual property authority, a government agency established in 1880 and operating under the Erhvervsministeriet (Ministry of Business). Headquartered in Taastrup with a branch office in Ikast, the agency holds exclusive statutory authority to register patents, utility models, trademarks, and designs in Denmark, and serves as Denmark's official gateway for European patent (EPO) validation and international (WIPO) filings. Its primary customer base comprises Danish SMEs, entrepreneurs, individual inventors, and students at professional colleges, supplemented by referrals through 12 regional Erhvervshusene (business houses) and private IP advisors.

The agency's technology stack is built around three core digital platforms operated in collaboration with Statens IT: PVSonline (a publicly accessible 24/7 search database updated on all working days), IP Client (an authenticated self-service portal for case management via MitID/NemLog-in or EPO smartcards), and PVS e-Filing (an electronic application submission system). These are complemented by a portfolio of fee-based professional services, including Dialogsøgning expert consultations (3,500 DKK for the first 2 hours), novelty/freedom-to-operate/infringement/validity searches, trademark and logo pre-examinations, and the MarkWatch annual trademark monitoring subscription (3,150 DKK/year). Three subsidy programs (SMV-Fond via EUIPO offering up to 4,200 EUR, IP Fast Track/Startpakke for micro-enterprises, and Patentvoucher up to 75,000 DKK/year) channel co-funding to Danish businesses.

Revenue is generated through statutory registration fees set under Danish law (Varemærkeloven §47, Designloven §52, Patentloven §71, Brugsmodelloven §65) and commercial service fees, with program budgets supplemented by EUIPO and Danish government co-funding. Distribution operates through self-service portals, customer service (phone and email), expert Dialogsøgning sessions available in-person or online, a regional Erhvervshusene referral network, private IP advisors, and an EUIPO-co-funded educational programme ('Styrk din idé') targeting students. Strategic partnerships span EPO, EUIPO, WIPO, Erhvervshusene, and Teknologisk Institut's Opfinderrådgivningen.

Name

Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen

Legal name

Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen

Website

https://www.dkpto.dk

Company type

Public

Founded year

1880

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Patent- og Varemrkestyrelsen is a government agency that provides patents and registers designs, trademarks, and utility models.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

IP Filing, Annuities & Renewals Administration (BPAHAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA), Trademark Prosecution & Brand Protection (BPAHAMAB), IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis (BPAHAMAG), Intellectual Property (IP) Law (BPAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Intellectual property registration
• Patent filing services
• Trademark registration
• Design protection
• IP rights administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Taastrup

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. IP Rights Registration Fees: The agency collects statutory fees for processing and maintaining applications and registrations for patents, utility models, trademarks, and designs. These fees are set by law (Varemærkeloven §47, Designloven §52, Patentloven §71, Brugsmodelloven §65).
2. Professional Services (Erhvervsservices): Fee-based professional services including searches (news search, freedom-to-operate search, infringement search, validity search), dialog searches, trademark scanning, trademark identity scanning, design search, trademark monitoring (MarkWatch), and overview of trademark portfolios. These are sold as commercial services to businesses and advisors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen is the Danish government agency that processes and registers intellectual property rights — patents, utility models, trademarks, and designs — granting statutory legal protection in Denmark. It operates digital self-service platforms (IP Client, PVSonline, e-Filing) for application submission and case management, and provides fee-based expert search, advisory, and monitoring services to Danish businesses, inventors, and IP advisors.

Product overview

Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen operates as Denmark's national intellectual property authority under the Ministry of Industry, providing a suite of registration, search, and advisory services. The core platform consists of PVSonline (public search database for Danish patents, utility models, trademarks, and designs), IP Client (authenticated self-service portal for case management), and e-Filing portals for submitting applications. These are complemented by fee-based advisory services including Dialogsøgning (collaborative expert searches for patents, trademarks, and designs), Nyheds-søgning (novelty searches), Freedom to Operate-søgning, Krænkelses-søgning (infringement searches), Gyldigheds-søgning (validity searches), trademark pre-examinations, Varemærkeskanning, MarkWatch monitoring, and a hotline for counterfeit goods guidance. The organization also administers three subsidy programs co-funded by EUIPO and the Danish government: SMV-fond (up to 4,200 EUR for SMEs), IP Fast Track/Startpakke (for micro-enterprises), and Patentvoucher (up to 75,000 DKK for SMEs). Communication is delivered digitally via e-Boks and IP Client, with a newsletter managed through Ubivox.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dialogsøgning – Varemærke (Trademark)
• Dialogsøgning – Design
• MarkWatch
• IP Client
• e-Filing (PVS-efiling)
• PVSonline
• PVS-Pay
• Nyheds-søgning (Novelty Search)
• Freedom to Operate-søgning
• Krænkelses-søgning (Infringement Search)
• Gyldigheds-søgning (Validity Search)
• Dialogsøgning – Patent
• Forundersøgelse af mærke i Danmark (Trademark pre-examination in Denmark)
• Forundersøgelse af logo i Danmark (Logo pre-examination in Denmark)
• Varemærkeskanning (International Trademark Scanning)
• Varemærkeidentitetsskanning (Trademark Identity Scanning)
• Varemærkeovervågning internationalt (International Trademark Monitoring)
• Overblik over indehavers varemærker (Trademark Portfolio Overview)
• Hotline om kopivarer (Counterfeit Hotline)
• SMV-fond (SME Fund)
• IP Fast Track / Startpakke til varemærke og design
• Patentvoucher

Quantifiable outcome

• Only 12% of small businesses use IP rights, indicating a large untapped opportunity

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ErhvervshusenecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorErhvervshusene (regional business houses) across Denmark provide free IP sparring and guidance to businesses, refer clients to Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen, and administer government support schemes including IP Fast Track and Patent Voucher. They connect businesses to The Trade Council, EIFO, and Innovationsfonden.
• Teknologiske Institut – OpfinderrådgivningencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpfinderrådgivningen (Inventor Advisory) at the Technological Institute provides free, independent, and confidential guidance on creating, validating, and commercializing ideas. They have a digital prototype workshop and specialize in licensing ideas to existing companies. Referenced as a key strategic partner for inventor support.
• EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUIPO manages the SME Fund providing financial subsidies (up to 75% reimbursement, max 4,200 EUR in 2026) for patent, trademark, and design applications. Also provides the EUIPO Logo and co-funds educational programmes. Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen participates in EUIPO's IP enforcement initiatives.
• EPO (European Patent Office)coreTechnology or IntegrationEPO is the European patent authority. Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen handles validation of European patents in Denmark and represents Danish interests in EPO cooperation. Users can log in to IP Client with EPO smartcards.
• WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)coreTechnology or IntegrationWIPO is the UN agency for global IP. Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen represents Danish interests in WIPO forums and provides guidance on international filing via the PCT (Patents), Madrid (Trademarks), and Hague (Designs) systems.
• EUIPO (for education programme)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEUIPO co-funded the development of the 'Styrk din idé' teaching programme for students, which was developed by Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen using EUIPO funds.
• Erhvervshus NordjyllandcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerErhvervshus Nordjylland administers both the IP Fast Track scheme and the Patent Voucher programme, processing applications and disbursing government funds to eligible micro-enterprises and SMEs for IP registration costs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• European Patent Office (EPO): The European Patent Office grants European patents that Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen validates for Denmark. The two operate as a tightly integrated tandem — EPO handles examination and grant, the Danish office handles national validation — making EPO the closest institutional counterpart.
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): WIPO is the UN agency that administers PCT, Madrid, and Hague international filing systems used by the Danish office. It functions as the supranational framework around which the agency's international services are built.
• United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO): USPTO is the US national IP office offering patent and trademark registration with similar statutory authority. Although jurisdictionally distinct, it is a widely benchmarked incumbent with a parallel service model.
• Japan Patent Office (JPO): JPO is Japan's national IP office providing patent, trademark, and design registration and examination services. Comparable as a long-established, government-mandated IP authority with a similar service architecture.

Direct peers

• European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO): EUIPO administers EU-wide trademark and design registrations and co-funds the Danish office's SMV-Fond and education programmes. It is a directly comparable national-style IP registry operating at supranational level with parallel service lines.
• UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO): The UKIPO is the UK's national IP office, offering patent, trademark, and design registration with parallel search, hearing, and educational services. Highly comparable in scope, service mix, and customer base to the Danish office.
• Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt (DPMA): Germany's national IP office provides patent, trademark, and design registration plus search and information services — the closest large-scale functional peer to the Danish office in continental Europe.
• Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI): France's national IP office offers patent, trademark, and design registration with a comparable service portfolio, fee-based searches, and SME support programmes — a direct functional analogue.
• PRV — Swedish Patent and Registration Office: Sweden's national IP office handles patent, trademark, and design registrations with a comparable service catalogue and Nordic customer base. Operates in the same regional ecosystem and is often benchmarked against the Danish office.
• Norwegian Industrial Property Office (Patentstyret): Norway's national IP office provides patent, trademark, and design services with very similar scope and customer segments. The closest regional peer in terms of market size and operating context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/24410

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen