PEACE OF MIND is the guiding principle for any holder of industrial and intellectual property rights starting at midnight tonight—that is, when Brexit, the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, takes effect at 12:00 a.m. CET.
Despite the storm clouds that at one point in 2019 foreshadowed an abrupt exit of the United Kingdom from the EU, an agreement has finally been reached that, in addition to setting the terms for that exit, provides for a transition period that, in principle, will last until December 31, 2020, EU law will continue to apply in the United Kingdom. This transition period therefore applies to the Regulations governing the European Union trademark and Community designs, the Regulation governing border measures to combat commercial piracy, and the procedural Regulations applicable to the pursuit of legal actions, among others. It should also be noted that European patents will not be affected by Brexit, since the European Patent Convention, which governs the granting of such patents, is not part of the EU legal system.
The effects of Brexit on industrial and intellectual property rights and other related matters are therefore postponed until January 1, 2021.
ELZABURU se propone enviar durante los próximos meses circulares informativas sobre las consecuencias del Brexit en relación con solicitudes y registros de marcas de la Unión Europea y registros internacionales de marca que designen la UE; también sobre los efectos del Brexit en materia de dibujos y modelos comunitarios; en relación con variedades vegetales y nombres de dominio <.eu>; sobre las solicitudes de intervención aduanera; sobre los procedimientos judiciales en curso o por iniciar; sobre la falta de incidencia hoy por hoy en cuestiones relativas a la patente europea; sobre procedimientos de oposición, nulidad y caducidad de derechos, así como cuestiones relacionadas con la representación para actuar ante la EUIPO.
For now, the message is clear. From February 1 through the end of the transition period, scheduled for December 31, 2020, everything will remain the same in practice: procedures regarding trademarks, designs, and other intangible assets will continue to operate as they have to date.
If you have any questions, please contact brexit@elzaburu.es.
Visit our website:http://www.elzaburu.com/