Siemens – South African trademarks

Updated 8 November 2026

Siemens is a German technology company. It supplies industrial automation, smart infrastructure, mobility and healthcare technology.

How Siemens has built and protected its brands in South Africa – its trademark portfolio, where it expanded, how quickly its marks are registered, and who it competes with.

Download report (PDF)
#67largest trademark owner in South Africa (of 121,626)
809trademarks filed
4different logos published since 2020
21of 45 classes used
1925first trademark filed
123filed in the last 10 years

Siemens trademarks in 45 seconds

Siemens trademarks in 45 seconds

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/siemens-south-african-trademarks/overview-video.html

A portfolio built over time

Siemens filed its first South African trademark in 1925 and has filed 809 since; its busiest year was 2000, with 50 new filings. The chart shows its filings per year from 1970.

Trademarks by filing year, up to 2024; applications still pending are not included.

The names behind the portfolio

Over the years the group has filed under several names – earlier company names, holding companies and subsidiaries. We count them together.

NameMarksFiling years
Siemens7191925–2024
Siemens Healthcare1211977–2023
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics631942–2022
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Products101978–2005

Where Siemens expanded its business

Trademark classes show what a business sells. Siemens' portfolio is concentrated in electronics & software (class 9), tech & it services (class 42), medical devices (class 10). Its most recent moves were into clothing (2016), legal & security (2007), medical & beauty care (2003).

Siemens trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2024

Siemens trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2024

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/siemens-south-african-trademarks/class-expansion-video.html

Each tile is a class; it lights up when the group first files in it and darkens with more filings; the dots show how many of its closest rivals also file in that class. The chart compares the number of classes used with its rivals. The video runs from 1970; classes entered earlier are lit from the start.

ClassMarksShareSince
9 Electronics & software33241.0%1925
42 Tech & IT services12315.2%1984
10 Medical devices11113.7%1964
37 Construction & repair374.6%1972
41 Education & entertainment313.8%1993
7 Machines313.8%1964
38 Telecoms303.7%1995
35 Advertising & retail222.7%1972

The brands Siemens protects most

The word marks and logo names Siemens has filed most often – the same brand filed in more classes, in more versions or again over the years.

#BrandTrademarksClassesFiled
1SIEMENS GLOBAL NETWORK OF INNOVATION13132001–2001
2Healthineers12122016–2016
3SIEMENS CLIMATE SOLUTIONS12122010–2010
4SIEMENS981964–2007
5IN AFRICA. FOR AFRICA.772003–2003
6MOBISPHERE662000–2000
7SIMETAL662007–2007
8SIPLANT661999–1999
9ATELLICA642016–2020
10INTERATOM551978–1978
11MCS551997–1997
12SIEMENS NIXDORF551991–1991
13SITRAM552009–2009
14teamplay552015–2015
15SIMATIC541973–1993

Logos filed most often (since 2020)

Siemens trademark logo
5 filings · 3 classes
Siemens trademark logo
3 filings · 3 classes
Siemens trademark logo
2 filings · 2 classes
Siemens trademark logo
1 filing · 1 class

Siemens' logos

The 4 different logos Siemens has had published since 2020 – each logo shown once, however many classes or versions it was filed in. Logos protected in more classes come first.

How quickly its trademarks are registered

Over the last five years, Siemens' marks took a median of 3.5 years from filing to registration, slower than the market's 2.7 years. Most of that time is examination: 2.6 years from filing to acceptance (market: 1.9). Registration itself follows about half a year after acceptance.

Median years from filing to registration per registration year, split into examination (filing → acceptance) and acceptance → registration; the dashed line is the market median. A high recent value means older applications came through that year.

Who files the most in Siemens' classes

Ranked by number of trademarks filed in Siemens' main classes – any company that files there, whatever else it does (including retailers' own brands). This shows Siemens' market position, not who is most like it.

In the last five years, Siemens was #45 of 4,926 filers in class 9 (electronics & software), with 15 of 10,252 trademarks; #21 of 3,000 filers in class 42 (tech & IT services), with 12 of 5,783 trademarks; #4 of 814 filers in class 10 (medical devices), with 19 of 1,561 trademarks.

Siemens' share of all trademarks filed in each of its main classes, per filing year.

Top trademark filers in class 9 (electronics & software), South Africa 1975–2024: Siemens

Top trademark filers in class 9 (electronics & software), South Africa 1975–2024: Siemens

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/siemens-south-african-trademarks/class-9-race-video.html

Main competitors – the companies most like Siemens

Ranked by how similar their whole trademark portfolio is to Siemens' – the same mix of classes and the same words in their marks – not by size. Large filers in its classes that do something different rank lower here.

Siemens trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Siemens trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024

Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/siemens-south-african-trademarks/competitors-video.html

Trademark filings per year: Siemens (orange) and its five closest competitors.

#CompanyRelationshipSimilarity
1PhilipsRelated field74%
2ColoplastOther field70%
3AlconOther field69%
4BiomerieuxOther field67%
5Fisher and Paykel Healthcare–72%
6Bausch and Lomb–70%
7Sivantos–69%
8Paragon 28–69%
9Medacta International–69%
10Becton Dickinson and–69%

Similarity of trademark activity since 2015 (classes and words used in marks). Retailers appear where their own brands compete on the shelf.

Siemens – relevant export countries

South Africa exported US$8.2 billion of the goods Siemens' main classes cover in the last year – software; computer hardware; data; recorded (class 9); parts; equipment; devices; instruments (class 10); machines; machine tools; vacuum cleaners (class 7). Combining where these goods are exported, imported, growing and made (and copied), and what protection costs, these are the markets where Siemens' trademarks matter most.

Adjust the weightings

These weightings decide how the countries below are ranked. Change any value and the others adjust to keep the total at 100%.

Worldwide

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 3 classes
1European Union82US$1.4 billion-0%NationalUS$1,859
2United States of America74US$511 m+3%NationalUS$2,075
3United Kingdom67US$114 m-2%NationalUS$1,012
4India66US$52 m+8%NationalUS$807
5Türkiye65US$289 m+8%NationalUS$980
6Canada62US$79 m-1%NationalUS$1,623
7Australia61US$180 m-0%NationalUS$1,660
8Hong Kong SAR60US$28 m+0%NationalUS$1,110
9Singapore59US$17 m-2%NationalUS$1,306
10Namibia59US$596 m+17%ARIPOUS$343

Africa

#MarketScoreSA exportsImport growth / yrRouteCost, 3 classes
1Namibia59US$596 m+17%ARIPOUS$343 S&Z
2Zimbabwe58US$608 m+14%ARIPOUS$343 S&Z
3Morocco57US$22 m+23%NationalUS$1,040
4Lesotho56US$157 m+28%NationalUS$314
5Botswana56US$617 m-7%ARIPOUS$343 S&Z
6Nigeria56US$71 m-8%NationalUS$609 S&Z
7Mozambique55US$411 m+8%ARIPOUS$343 S&Z
8OAPI (17 states)55US$239 m+10%NationalUS$1,194 S&Z
9Malawi55US$79 m+29%ARIPOUS$343 S&Z
10Tanzania54US$123 m+3%ARIPOUS$343 S&Z

SA exports = South Africa's exports of these goods to the market in the last year. Ranked with the default weightings. Score 0–100 from South Africa's exports of the goods to the market, net imports, import growth, foreign trademark filings, where the goods are made, market size and the cost of protection. Costs are total fees (official and professional) to file in 3 classes; ARIPO costs are per country, plus US$280 once per ARIPO application; S&Z = S&Z's own all-in price. Goods are taken from the classes and specifications, so the ranking is indicative.

Trade data: CEPII BACI (version 202601, trade flows 2022–2024), Licence Etalab 2.0; aggregated and combined with other data by S&Z.

Protecting its top brands in Nigeria and OAPI with S&Z

BrandClassesNigeriaOAPI (17 states)
SIEMENS GLOBAL NETWORK OF INNOVATION13US$2,639US$3,041
Healthineers12US$2,436US$2,856
SIEMENS CLIMATE SOLUTIONS12US$2,436US$2,856
SIEMENS8US$1,624US$2,117
IN AFRICA. FOR AFRICA.7US$1,421US$1,932

S&Z all-in prices per brand in its number of classes, filing to registration.

TM Country Selection  Rank the countries for your own goods and get the quotes.

Word marks you may have considered opposing

For Siemens' five most-filed brands: word marks of other companies (not Siemens' own group) that our similar word mark search, SimTM, found in the brand's own classes, and that we consider confusingly similar – from the earliest match found to today.

Similar to SIEMENS GLOBAL NETWORK OF INNOVATION (classes 9, 10, 37, 41, 42; searched 2018-03-28 to 2026-11-07)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to SIEMENS CLIMATE SOLUTIONS (classes 9, 10, 41, 42; searched 2018-03-28 to 2026-11-07)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to SIEMENS (classes 7, 9, 10, 11, 35, 36, 37, 40; searched 2019-07-31 to 2026-11-07)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similar to Healthineers (classes 9, 37, 41, 42; searched 2018-07-25 to 2026-11-08)

No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.

Similarity of the words only. Whether a mark could have been opposed depends on the goods and services, the reputation of the brand and the facts – S&Z can advise. New marks like these are what SimTM watch reports as they are published.

How S&Z can help you

S&Z does not just file trademarks. We are a technology-first firm that manages trademarks – analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected.

We manage your trademarks – not just file them

Analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected:

Renewal managementEvery renewal date in your portfolio tracked and paid online.
Competitor watchGet real-time competitor analysis.
Similar-mark watchNew word marks that come close to yours, found as they are published using SimTM.
Expansion into AfricaLowest-cost trademark expansion into Africa - Nigeria, OAPI.

Filing and renewal at fixed, all-inclusive prices

S&Z prices – South African trademarks

Filing, first class – incl. official fee, examination report, routine office action, acceptance, publication, registration and e-certificateUS$240
Each additional class of the same mark, filed at the same timeUS$225
Renewal online, per class (every 10 years from filing)R1,027
≈ US$62.29

Renewal in rand; US$ at R16.49 per US$.

Siemens' next five years of renewals

184 of Siemens' registered marks reach their ten-year renewal date in 2027–2031. Renewed online with S&Z, that costs about US$11,461 over the five years.

Siemens: frequently asked questions

What should Siemens consider for its trademarks?
  • Where to file next: its goods sell strongly in Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana – markets where South African exports of the same goods are large or growing, and where S&Z files at its own all-in prices (see “Siemens – relevant export countries”).
  • Possible gaps: its competitors also protect class 3 (cosmetics & cleaning) – worth checking against what the business sells or plans to sell.
  • Fewer new brands: new brand names fell from 7.8 to 6.8 a year – worth reviewing whether planned launches are being protected early enough.
  • Renewals and use: keep track of the ten-year renewal dates and of marks that are no longer used – unused marks can be challenged after five years, and some may no longer be worth renewing.
Which of Siemens' brands have been protected the longest?
Several of Siemens' brands have been protected for generations and are still being filed today: CLINITEST (first filed 1942, most recently 2018); ATELLICA (first filed 2016, most recently 2020); BioMatrix (first filed 2016, most recently 2019); Healthineers (first filed 2016, most recently 2016); OCI (first filed 2019, most recently 2019). Brands that are refiled over decades – in new classes, new logos or updated packaging – keep their protection current as the business changes.
How many new brands does Siemens launch each year?
Counting only brand names it had never filed before, Siemens filed about 6.8 new brand names a year over the last five complete years, fewer than the 7.8 a year in the five years before; its busiest year in the last decade was 2016, with 14. Its closest competitors averaged 2.6 new brand names a year over the same period (Philips 0.8, Coloplast 1.2, Alcon 7.2, Biomerieux 1.2, Fisher and Paykel Healthcare 2.8). New brand names are a good indicator of product launches and innovation.
How broadly does Siemens protect each brand?
Siemens has filed 465 different brand names. 63% of them are protected in a single class, while 13 cover five classes or more – the widest is SIEMENS GLOBAL NETWORK OF INNOVATION, in 13 classes. A brand used beyond its core product (merchandise, services, related goods) needs protection in each of those classes: in South Africa each class is a separate application.
When in the year does Siemens usually file trademarks?
Over the last ten years, Siemens filed most often in May (21% of its filings), February (18%) and March (11%); the busiest quarter was Q1 (38%). Filing well before a launch matters: rights in South Africa date from the filing date, and examination can take more than a year.
Which classes do Siemens' competitors protect that Siemens does not?
Several of Siemens' closest competitors have filed since 2015 in classes Siemens has never used: class 3 (cosmetics & cleaning, 2 of its top five competitors). These are not necessarily gaps – they may reflect different products – but they are worth reviewing against the goods and services the business actually offers or plans.
Why did some of Siemens' trademarks take more than five years to register?
Of Siemens' trademarks registered in the last two years, 66% had waited more than four years since filing. Almost all of that time is examination: the South African registry has been working through a backlog, so many applications filed in 2020–2022 are only now being accepted. Once a mark is accepted, it is advertised and normally registered within about six months. Prompt responses to the registry's examination reports (office actions) avoid adding further delay.
How long do Siemens' South African trademarks last, and when must they be renewed?
A South African trademark registration lasts ten years from the filing date and can be renewed for further ten-year periods indefinitely. Renewal can be paid in the months before the due date, and a six-month grace period applies after it, with a late-payment fee; a mark that is not renewed is removed from the register. A registered mark can also be challenged if it has not been used for five years or more, so use matters as much as renewal.
Do Siemens' South African trademarks protect its brands elsewhere in Africa?
No – trademarks are territorial, and a South African registration covers South Africa only. South Africa is not a member of the Madrid system, so international registration is not available to South African applicants. Protection elsewhere in Africa comes from national filings (for example Nigeria), a single OAPI registration covering 17 West and Central African states, or a regional ARIPO application designating member states such as Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. S&Z files in all of these, including Nigeria together with South Africa (SANi).
What can Siemens do if someone files a mark similar to one of its brands?
When a new application is advertised for opposition, the owner of an earlier, similar mark can oppose it – in South Africa within three months of the advertisement (this period can be extended). After registration, a conflicting mark can still be challenged through rectification of the register, and use of a confusingly similar mark can be stopped through an infringement action. The key is seeing new applications in time, which is what a similar-mark watch does.
What is SimTM?
SimTM is the similar-trademark technology behind GlobalIPCo's South African trademark watching services, which S&Z uses. It identifies newly published trademarks that sound or look similar to a registered mark, at four levels of sensitivity that progressively widen the marks flagged – from the most relevant to marks of more general interest. It is fast enough to check every trademark journal as it is published, so owners can be alerted to similar marks while they can still be opposed within the three-month opposition period. The word marks listed under “Word marks you may have considered opposing” were found with SimTM's two closest levels and then reviewed, so only marks we consider confusingly similar to Siemens' brands are shown.
How accurate is the information on this page?
The figures, charts and videos on this page are based on trademark and trade data obtained by S&Z, and are only as accurate as that data. Records can be incomplete, delayed or contain errors, and linking marks to Siemens and its group companies involves judgement. S&Z therefore does not guarantee that all the information is 100% accurate or complete. It is a general overview, not legal advice: please contact S&Z before relying on it for a filing, renewal, opposition or other decision.