International Trademark Applications and International Trademark Registration after Brexit

As now it's a well-known fact after a long negotiation process, The Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) has been approved. The Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union provides for a transition period starting on February 1, 2020, the date on which the UK will leave the EU, and ending on December 31, 2020.

Of course, this transition period, and the time after Brexit has fully occurred, also affects the European Union trademarks. According to information provided by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), European Union Trademarks (EUTM) will remain in force in the United Kingdom until the end of this year. Nationals of the United Kingdom and those who are domiciled or have a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in the United Kingdom and in whose name stands an application or registration with the Office of the European Union, may continue to file international applications with this Office, as Office of origin, during the transition period.

This Agreement provides for continued protection in the UK for marks in international applications and registrations under the Madrid System in which the EU has been designated, for the duration of the above-mentioned transition period.

The United Kingdom will take measures to ensure that holders of international registrations under the Madrid System that have obtained protection for their marks in the European Union before the end of the transition period continue to enjoy protection for those marks in the United Kingdom after this period has ended.

The official Information Notice from the International Bureau of WIPO is available here.