New improvements to the European Union trade mark registration system

Trade mark registration applications

 

The application official fees are being reduced for the first class by €50 per application. The cost of two classes will be the same as currently and the Intellectual Property Office fee of each class in excess of two will be a further €150. Businesses that generally only file in one class (such as pharmaceuticals, software, or clothing) will benefit from the lower fees. Businesses that file in numerous classes are advised to file before 23 March 2016, when the cost of filing in more than two classes will be increased.

 

The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market renewal official fees are being significantly reduced from €1350 for three classes to €850 for one class, €50 for the second class and €150 for each extra class. Any EU trade mark which expires prior to 23 March 2016 will be subject to current rates. At present, renewal fees can be paid in the same month as the date of expiry, but in future they must be paid before the renewal date, rather than before the end of that month. The six-month grace period for late renewals remains.

 

An EU trade mark will no longer have to be represented graphically, provided it is represented in a manner, such that the clear and precise subject matter can be determined, from 23 September 2017. This will make it more straightforward to register sound and smell trade marks.

 

Lists of goods must be identified with clarity and precision and Nice class headings will be given a literal meaning, rather than deemed to cover all goods in that class. Trade mark owners that have used the entire Nice class heading wording have until 23 September 2016 to file a declaration to expressly state the goods they want to cover. EU trade mark owners should review their trade mark protection with us, if they have used the entire Nice class heading wording and rights predate 20 June 2012. There is no government fee for making this declaration.

 

Certification marks will be registrable at the EU Intellectual Property Office from 23 September 2017. These are marks that certify characteristics of goods. The official fees will be the same as with EU collective marks.

 

EU Intellectual Property Office register searches of earlier EU trade marks will still be carried out, but applicants can opt not to receive them. We advise that they are received, because the EU Intellectual Property Office will be notifying rights holders of later applications.

 

The terminology is changing. The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market will now be known as the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the Community trade mark will be known as the European Union trade mark.

 

Priority claims must be made at the time of filing an EU trade mark in the future and the two-month grace period is no longer available. Disclaimers are not possible in future. There are new grounds for refusal on absolute grounds, such as geographical indications, wine terms, traditional specialities, plant varieties and designations of origin.

 

Oppositions

 

The changes to oppositions include:

• the owner of a designation of origin, or geographical indication can use these rights to object to use and registration; and
• opponents can be asked for proof of use, if their mark was five years old at the priority date, or filing date, rather than at the date of publication, and this change helps opponents.

 

Infringement

An EU trade mark will become a more effective weapon to deal with counterfeits. Objections can now be raised to goods in transit, even if the goods are not intended for the EU market; however, the goods owner can defeat an objection, if they can show that the trade mark owner cannot prevent the goods being placed on the market at the goods final destination. Those without EU trade marks (such as only with national registered rights) could look to secure EU trade marks.

 

There are better infringement rights under EU trade marks and using a sign as a company name, or trade name will be an infringing act and will not be covered by a defence. Trade mark owners could set up a company name watching service to object to company names.

 

Preparatory acts can also be prohibited in relation to labels, packaging or other materials, where there is a risk that the materials will be used in an infringing manner.

 

Licensees in the EU will only be able to bring proceedings for trade mark infringement, if the trade mark owner consents. An exclusive licensee can bring proceedings if the owner of the EU trade mark fails to bring an action within a certain period after the licensee has given the owner formal notice.

 

A defence to infringement may exist for those who use a trade mark to identify, or refer to goods honestly, for example as accessories, or spare parts.

 

Use of a registered trade mark in comparative advertising must comply with the EC Comparative Advertising Directive, or it is potentially an infringement.

 

National trade mark laws

 

National trade mark laws will be further harmonised. Countries will be required to provide revocation/invalidity procedures in their national trade mark offices, rather than in their courts. All EU national offices will be required to provide grounds for bad faith invalidity, reputation-based refusal and a six-month grace period for late renewals.

 

In summary, EU trade mark holders will now potentially benefit from lower renewal fees, lower filing fees when filing in one class, better rights to object to counterfeit goods in transit in the EU and use as a company name.

 

The immediate actions that can be taken are:

• to file EU trade marks now, if they will be in three classes, as these will be costlier after 23 March 2016;
• where registrations cover the Nice class heading, to file a declaration by 23 September 2016 setting out all the goods of interest in that class; and
• EU trade mark holders can also set up a watching service for company names, as they now have grounds to object. In future years, they can file for certification marks and signs that are smells, sounds etc not capable of graphical representation.

 

Trade mark holders also benefit from improvements at national level in procedures, which will involve less costs, as all national registries will be required to provide invalidity procedures, without the need to go through the courts.

 

For more information on trade marks, please contact James Cornish, partner and trade marks specialist at Page White and Farrer on 020 7831 7929, or email james.cornish@pagewhite.com.

 

This briefing is for general information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice relating to your particular circumstances. We can discuss specific issues and facts on an individual basis and answer any questions you receive from others about Brexit. Please note that the law may have changed since the date this was first published in March 2016.