{"id":34835,"date":"2026-07-27T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kpw.law\/?p=34835"},"modified":"2026-07-26T15:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T13:11:08","slug":"no-protection-for-the-compound-variopilot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpw.law\/en\/no-protection-for-the-compound-variopilot\/","title":{"rendered":"No protection for the compound VARIOPILOT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull v4-pattern-hero v4-pattern-hero--post is-style-background-blend is-style-arrow has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull v4-pattern-hero__cover\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);min-height:75vh;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img data-dominant-color=\"a83e0c\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"585\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-34831 size-large not-transparent\" alt=\"Kein Schutz f\u00fcr zusammengesetzten VARIOPILOT,  \" src=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kein-Schutz-fuer-zusammengesetzten-VARIOPILOT-1024x585.jpg\" style=\"--dominant-color: #a83e0c; object-position:51% 82%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"51% 82%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kein-Schutz-fuer-zusammengesetzten-VARIOPILOT-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kein-Schutz-fuer-zusammengesetzten-VARIOPILOT-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kein-Schutz-fuer-zusammengesetzten-VARIOPILOT-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kein-Schutz-fuer-zusammengesetzten-VARIOPILOT-1536x878.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kein-Schutz-fuer-zusammengesetzten-VARIOPILOT-2048x1170.jpg 2048w\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-base-background-color has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:5em\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-97ba1214 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a6a2a725 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\r\n<h1 id=\"multirow-headline-block_6f27b1dd964230cd4760c89d6e4dcfc2\" class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline\">\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline\">\n\n<p class=\"has-gigantic-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">No protection<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">for the compound<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-contrast-color has-text-color has-link-color has-gigantic-font-size wp-elements-8d0665a7b5ce8c2af389e337b141c941 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\"><span class=\"v4-marker-highlight-background\">VARIOPILOT<\/span><span class=\"v4-marker-highlight-background\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div> \r\n<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-small-font-size is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-878d3859 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:italic;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase\"><div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase\" class=\"wp-block-post-date has-small-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-07-27T09:00:00+02:00\">27. July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">of<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:600\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\">Clemens Pfitzer<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3b99a472 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>When examining a word mark that is written as a single unit, is it permissible to mentally break it down into two components, or does it matter only that it is considered as a single unit?  <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-worum-geht-s\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What&#8217;s it about?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eine Anmelderin wollte das Wortzeichen \u201eVARIOPILOT\u201d beim Deutschen Patent- und Markenamt f\u00fcr Steuerungen von Back\u00f6fen sowie f\u00fcr Back\u00f6fen selbst, jeweils mit Schwerpunkt auf der gewerblichen B\u00e4ckerei, eintragen lassen. Die zust\u00e4ndige Markenstelle des DPMA lehnte die Anmeldung am 31.01.2023 ab. Ihrer Ansicht nach fehlt dem Zeichen die notwendige <a href=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/rechtsgebiet\/markenrecht\/\" type=\"rechtsgebiet\" id=\"209\">markenrechtliche <\/a>Unterscheidungskraft. Der angesprochene Fachverkehr verstehe \u201eVARIOPILOT\u201d lediglich als Hinweis auf ein variables oder vielf\u00e4ltiges Steuerger\u00e4t, nicht aber als Kennzeichen eines bestimmten Unternehmens.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gegen diesen Beschluss legte die Anmelderin Beschwerde beim Bundespatentgericht ein. Ihr zentrales Argument war, dass \u201eVARIOPILOT\u201d eine einheitliche Wortneusch\u00f6pfung ohne erkennbare Z\u00e4sur sei. Der Verkehr zerlege diese nicht analysierend in ihre Bestandteile. Erg\u00e4nzend verwies sie auf eine Reihe von Voreintragungen \u00e4hnlicher Zeichen mit den Bestandteilen \u201eVARIO\u201d oder \u201ePILOT\u201d, die aus ihrer Sicht die Eintragungsf\u00e4higkeit belegten.   <\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-entscheidung-des-bundespatentgerichts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Decision of the Federal Patent Court<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Federal Patent Court dismissed the appeal with  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bundespatentgericht.de\/SharedDocs\/Entscheidungen\/DE\/2026\/29514-23_15072026.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&amp;v=1\">Decision of July 15, 2026 \u2013 Case No. 29 W (pat) 514\/23 Back <\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Senate first affirmed the general principle that the public perceives a trademark as a whole, without subjecting it to analytical scrutiny. In the case of multi-part word marks, however, it is permissible to examine the components separately at first, provided that the final assessment is again based on the totality of these components.  <\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group v4-pattern-general-quote-box has-kpw-blue-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, in the case of marks consisting of a combination of several word elements, it is permissible to first consider the components separately, provided that the assessment of distinctiveness is based on a subsequent examination of these components as a whole.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On this methodological basis, the Senate broke down \u201cVARIOPILOT\u201d into the elements \u201cVARIO\u201d and \u201cPILOT.\u201d The public readily recognizes this division despite the continuous capitalization, particularly since \u201cPILOT\u201d is a common German word. In numerous technical compound words, \u201cVARIO\u201d has long referred to variable, diverse, or modular characteristics. Even in the oven sector, this component was already being used in this way prior to the filing date, for example in time-saving functions or automatic settings from other manufacturers. In technical usage, \u201cPILOT\u201d has stood for \u201ccontrol unit\u201d for decades and is by no means limited to means of transportation, as demonstrated, among other things, by ovens with an automatic function referred to as \u201cAutoPilot.\u201d Taken as a whole, this points to the predominant meaning of a variable or versatile control unit, which is purely descriptive of the goods claimed.     <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With regard to the prior registrations cited by the applicant, the Board stated that, according to established case law, they have neither binding effect nor serve as evidence. Furthermore, many of the prior registrations cited contained additional word or figurative elements or covered different goods, so that they are not comparable for that reason alone. In addition, the Senate noted that some of the cited decisions were quite old and that public perception and case law may have changed since then.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-offene-fragen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unanswered Questions<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision raises a fundamental methodological question. On the one hand, the court emphasizes that the public always perceives a mark as a whole; on the other hand, however, it takes the liberty of breaking down that very mark into its presumed components in order to arrive at a descriptive meaning. The Senate justifies this apparent contradiction by stating that the separate analysis is merely an intermediate step prior to the final overall assessment. For applicants, however, it remains difficult to predict at what degree of linguistic fusion a court will still assume a discernible break, and at what point a truly independent neologism exists that defies decomposition.   <\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-praxistipps\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical Tips<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When creating word marks from two existing terms, it should be noted that courts may break down combined signs into their constituent parts, provided that one of the parts remains recognizable as a standalone word. Simply writing the terms together in uppercase letters does not protect against this analysis. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prior registrations of similar marks should, at most, serve as a guide in one\u2019s own application strategy, but not as a reliable basis. In particular, older prior registrations may have become obsolete due to a shift in public perception. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anyone seeking greater legal certainty should either replace one of the two word elements with a less common term or supplement the word mark with a distinctive figurative element.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-fazit\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns v4-pattern-text-copy-half-col is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision qualifies the principle of overall assessment by classifying the separate examination of components as a permissible intermediate step. While this approach may be legally sound, it makes it difficult for applicants to predict when a sign formed from two common terms will still be considered an independent, distinctive neologism and when it will be classified as a mere description of the goods or services. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80)\">\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide v4-pattern-cta-box has-secondary-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0c8cea62 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-top v4-pattern-cta-box__columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-71c143ff wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column is-layout-flow wp-container-core-column-is-layout-fb77afb0 wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:0;flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-right is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1931a79c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\r\n<div id=\"multirow-headline-block_810e5919f72467c1685937cc75098ae0\" class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline alignwide\">\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline\">\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">We are happy to<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-x-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:8%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:0.9;text-transform:uppercase\">advise you about<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:0.9;text-transform:uppercase\">Trademark law!<\/p>\n\n<\/div> \r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9da75b5c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-visual4-contact-modal__button\">\r\n            \r\n        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\r\n            \r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-button v4-contact-modal-button is-style-fill\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" data-form-id=\"8\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-contrast-color has-base-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\">Contact form<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        \r\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-style-mobile-only is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a768b15a wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-arrow is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-base-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:4971141019030\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Call now!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column--image is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column__image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/themes\/kpw-law\/assets\/samples\/person-cropped.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-23155\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What&#8217;s it about? Eine Anmelderin wollte das Wortzeichen \u201eVARIOPILOT\u201d beim Deutschen Patent- und Markenamt f\u00fcr Steuerungen von Back\u00f6fen sowie f\u00fcr Back\u00f6fen selbst, jeweils mit Schwerpunkt&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4904],"tags":[6524,5453,5434,5802,5042],"thema":[4895,4897],"rechtsgebiet":[4898],"produkt":[],"class_list":["post-34835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-compound-word-mark","tag-distinctive-character","tag-dpma-en","tag-lack-of-distinctiveness","tag-trademark-en","thema-marke-en","thema-markenformen-en","rechtsgebiet-markenrecht-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.9 (Yoast SEO v27.9) - 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