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Amendments to Trademark Laws

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Sep 17, 2013 (Newsletter Issue 13/13)
Benelux
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Significant Changes to IP Practice


The Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) has announced significant changes to the IP practice starting on or after 1 October 2013.

This affects the following:
- English as a working language: English becomes a working language next to the official languages Dutch and French.
- New way of calculating the opposition period: The opposition period of two months shall be calculated from the date of publication instead of from the first day of the month after the publication date.
- Modification of the period for suspension of oppositions: Extension of the cooling off period on the joint request of both parties will be 4 months instead of 2 months
- Simplification of the procedure for renewal of a trademark: E-filing of renewal application is accompanied with an e-payment module.

There will also be some other changes. The exact date of which is not yet known, but this is expected for the end of the year. It concerns the following points:
- E-filing of international filings
- E-filing of design filings
- Implementation of TMclass

Source: www.boip.int and Landmark Trademark Protection, The Netherlands