UK-IPO Consults On Modernisation Of International Trademark Registration Regime

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

10 June 2008

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) last week launched a consultation on the modernisation of the Trade Marks (International Registration) Order, set to close on 30th June.

The IP Office explained that:

"Earlier this year, a formal consultation was launched on new consolidated trade mark rules. This concerned, amongst other things, proposed changes to opposition periods. Changes made to these domestic rules should also (wherever appropriate) apply to marks which designate the UK via the Madrid Protocol."

"The secondary legislation involved is the International Order 1996 (as amended)."

"This time around however, we have taken the opportunity to completely recast the old, and much amended, Order. The aim with the new draft is to increase clarity, certainty and completeness of the old Order, for example by making it easier to amend in the future."

It went on to add that:

"The consultation is informal as no new policy changes are involved. There was some tidying up necessary and existing gaps to be plugged but overall, the new draft, whilst looking radically different to the old Order, preserves the status quo. There is an analysis annexed to the consultation paper to show this."

"The Order is a highly technical piece of legislation and the approach taken in the draft text may well interest users of the Madrid system."

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