The TÜV brand is a registered trademark reserved for TÜV organisations and VdTÜV. The brand is extremely well known and identifies the TÜV inspection and testing organisations. It may only be used by a Technischer Überwachungs-Verein (TÜV - technical inspection agency) or a TÜV subsidiary company. Because of its official registration with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office [Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt (DPMA)], with the Office for Harmonisation in the European Internal Market [Harmonisierungsamt für den Europäischen Binnenmarkt (HABM)] and with numerous trade mark offices in other countries, the brand name is protected almost all over the world. TÜV companies enjoy a superb reputation as regards neutrality and expertise throughout the business sectors in which they work. This accounts for the high profile of the TÜV brand and the great respect in which it is held.