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Amendments to Trademark Laws

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Feb 06, 2020 (Newsletter Issue 1/20)
United Kingdom
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Withdrawal from EU and Transition Period


The United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) have ratified the Withdrawal Agreement and UK departed from the EU on January 31, 2020.

A transition period has been set up from February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
During this period, EU law will continue to operate as it does now in the UK. The Intellectual Property (IP) system will continue as it is until December 31, 2020.

The Withdrawal Agreement ensures continued protection of existing EU-level IP rights in the UK after the end of the transition period. IPO will convert almost 1,4 million EU trademarks and 700,000 EU designs to comparable UK rights at the end of the transition period. These will come into effect on January 1, 2021.

EU trade marks
Throughout the transition period the UK will remain part of the EU trademark System. EU Trade Marks (EUTM) will continue to extend to the UK during this time.

Businesses, organisations or individuals that have applications for an EUTM which are ongoing at the end of the transition period will have a period of nine months from the end of the transition period to apply in the UK for the same protections.

International registrations designating the European Union
During the transition period, international registrations for trademarks and designs protected via the Madrid and Hague systems which designate the European Union will continue to extend to the UK.

In accordance with the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, international registrations for trademarks and designs that have been protected before the end of the transition period will continue to be protected in the UK after December 31, 2020. IPO is continuing to work with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on the mechanism to ensure continued protection.

For further information, please check here

Source: www.gov.uk