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Information on granting the power of attorney

Do you want or need to empower a person to represent you in proceedings before the DPMA?

Below you will find important information on how to grant a power of attorney and what to bear in mind.

How to grant powers of attorney

You would like to grant a power of attorney? Then you have various options.

• Powers of attorney concerning only specific proceedings can be filed as individual powers of attorney for the respective proceedings. There are no forms available at the DPMA for this purpose. These documents only have to fulfil the criteria listed below.
• If you want the same person to act on your behalf in several proceedings, you can either issue an individual power of attorney for each proceeding, specify the proceedings in one power of attorney document or issue a general power of attorney ( form VM 01 (1,01 MB)) empowering the authorised person to represent you in all matters related to the DPMA.

• Companies or firms (i.e. also sole traders) may also authorise their staff ( form VM 02 (1,01 MB)). The authorised person is then empowered to represent the applicant in all matters (with the exception of accepting the service of documents and payments from the DPMA) related to the DPMA.

The general power of attorney and the power of attorney for staff will be registered at the DPMA and assigned a number. Both forms can be found on our webpage Other forms.

What to bear in mind when granting powers of attorney

• If the authorised person is not a patent attorney or a lawyer, you must submit a written power of attorney to the DPMA. The power of attorney must be issued to a person capable of acting in court and designated by their civil name (section 15 (3) of the DPMA Ordinance). In addition, the strict requirements of the Act on Out-of-Court Legal Services (Rechtsdienstleistungsgesetz, RDG) must be observed. Please note: commercial inventor consultation and representation by non-attorneys are considered violations of the Act on Out-of-Court Legal Services.
  Please note that a person authorised by you to represent you in proceedings before the DPMA – be it a patent attorney or a lawyer or any other legal representative – will always be recorded and published as a representative in the IP registers. This also means that all communication and correspondence of the DPMA will be conducted exclusively with the person designated as representative. If someone is only to act on your behalf in an individual situation, e.g. in case of a temporary absence due to illness, this person will not be recorded as a representative.
• In principle, commercial enterprises cannot be appointed as authorised representatives at the DPMA. However, it is possible to authorise a professional practice company of lawyers or patent attorneys (i.e. a joint practice) by stating its name.
• If the grantor of the power of attorney is not a natural person but, for example, a limited liability company, the power of attorney document must clearly state the position or function of the signatory within the company of the grantor of the power of attorney (e.g. board member, managing director, authorised signatory) and the authorisation to grant the power of attorney must be proven if necessary.

Last updated: 4 December 2025