Opposition is a legal proceeding in which a party tries to prevent a trademark (application) from being granted (final) registration. In Germany, a notice of opposition must be filed in writing within three months after the publication of the registration. The trademark might be cancelled as a result of the opposition procedure due to earlier trade mark rights.
Other business signs are such signs designated to distinguish a business which does not have a name function. These other signs are protected only if they have become known in the course of trade as distinctive signs, e.g., if they have acquired distinctiveness through market recognition. Other business signs could be for example pictures, geometric forms, signets, corporate colors, telephone and telex/telefax numbers.