• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0
[email protected]
Contact form
Patentanwaltskanzlei

Patentanwaltskanzlei

  • Deutsch

+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • xing
  • Email
MENUMENU
  • Services
    • Advice On Protective IP Rights
    • Patent Application /TM Registration
    • Enforcement Of IP Rights
    • Defence Against IP Rights Enforcement
    • Costs
  • Company
    • Fields of Law
      • Patent Law
      • Utility Model Law
      • Employees‘ Inventions
      • Trademark Law
      • Design Law
      • Trademark and Product Piracy
      • Expert Opinions
    • Our Law Firm
      • Dr. Tim Meyer-Dulheuer
      • Dr. Klaus Zimmermann
      • Zhichao Ying
      • Walter Benjamin Feldheim
    • Commitment
  • Contact
    • Where To Find Us
    • Write us!
    • Request call back
  • Blog

New EU trademark system – 13 key changes

12. April 2016

From 23rd March 2016, the reform of the European Union trademark system comes into force. The new system includes not only a name change, but also a new fee-system and many more. This article gives you a good overview about what happened and what the most important changes are.

1. Name changes

The Office for Harmonization of the Internal Market (OHIM) became the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). There is a second name change: the Community Trade Mark (CTM) is now called “European Union Trade Mark” (EUTM). The two name changes are the most significant changes the new system has. To assimilate the new names might be the hardest part of the whole reform.

2. Fee-changes – pay for what you need

In an other article we’ve published earlier this year, we have already told you about the new fee system and the positive impacts for applicants that only want to apply for one class. The previous fee system did not differ between one and up to three applications. So at the OHIM-time you payed “3-for-1”. Since March 23rd you now “Pay-per-Class“. A single application now costs 850€ (-50€), but the more classes you want to register, the more it costs: The second class costs 900€ (+0€) and each further class costs 1.050€ (+150€).

The three-class system is also abandoned for renewal fees, which are reduced from €1,350 for three classes to €850 for the first class, €50 for the second class and €150 for each further class.

3. Goods and services: new descriptions

The system implemented after the IP Translator decision is officially integrated in the European regulation. That means that if you choose to file trademark applications with the full class headings definitions, then only the specific items listed in the class headings will be covered and not additional items included in the same class (alphabetical list) but not listed in the headings. Therefore make sure that the goods/services provided under the mark are indeed included in these headings and if not, to add them to the list.

Already registered European trademarks

If you hold European trademark registrations which were filed before June 22, 2012 with full class headings and do not include specific items of interest, you will have a delay of six months (September 24, 2016), in order to file a declaration for adding these items. The declaration form will be available online at the EUIPO website.

Please make sure to carefully review your European registrations to check whether a declaration has to be filed or not.

Multilingual-Animation-We-Are-EUIPO
“We are EUIPO” – © EUIPO

4. Non-traditional trademarks – no more graphic representation

It is not required anymore to hand in a graphic in order to register trademarks. This will ease the use of new technologies in applying for sound or smell marks. It should also enable easier registration of moving image marks.

5. Opposition period – less waiting time

Before EUIPO the opposition period for international trademarks designating the European Union started six months after publication date. With the new EUIPO reform it starts one month after the publication, reducing the opposition period. That can quicken your application to become registered.

6. European Union Certification Mark

Certification marks will officially be introduced in 21 months’ time. The marks will enable organizations or institutions to register marks, which must comply with specific standards in order to be used by others.

7. Appellations of origin

Appellations of origin and geographical indications will now be accepted as ground for opposition or cancellation of a trademark including such appellations. They may also constitute a ground for refusal of a new trademark by the EUIPO.

8. Common law rights

Famous marks with extensive reputation will gain a better protection. For example, they may constitute a ground for opposition or cancellation, even for goods or services not included in trademark registrations.

EUIPO-Logo-Claim9. Comparative advertisement

The use of a registered European trademark in comparative advertisement can now be considered as an IP-infringement.

10. Search reports

Search reports for previous registered similar trademarks, which were practiced by the OHIM in order to alert owners of these prior marks, are now optional. This means that trademark owners will have to reconsider their watching policy in order to timely file oppositions against similar trademark applications.

11. Cooling-off period

The cooling-off period in opposition procedures aimed to give the opportunity to the parties to reach an amicable settlement, becomes compulsory for a minimum period of two months.

12. Proof of use – application or priority date decisive

The five-year proof of use required from the owner of a prior trademark registration in opposition procedures will now be calculated from the application or the priority date of the opposed mark, instead of its publication date.

13. Goods in transit

It will now be possible to seize counterfeit goods in transit infringing a European trademark registration, even if they are not eventually aimed to the European market. (Even) More protection for your trademark(s).

 

EUIPO – Can we help filing your trade mark application?

CAT-call_en

Sources:
EUIPO
Ezratty Farhi Law Firm

  • share  
  • share 
  • share 
  • share 
  • share 

Category iconTrademark Law Tag iconEUIPO,  European Union Intellectual Property Office

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

More articles about: Trademark Law

All articles

Blog Menu

  • Design Law
  • Healthcare & Lifesciences
  • International Intellectual Property
  • Licenses
  • News from our law firm
  • Overall
  • Patent Law
  • Product- and Trademark piracy
  • Trademark Law

Recent Posts

  • What is the public allowed to know? 3. June 2024
  • BPatG: Patent claim of cancer drug on active substance as salt 7. March 2022
  • Grant for European IP Protection: SME Fund 2022 4. March 2022
  • CODE-X vs. Cody’s: Likelihood of confusion in drinks? 25. February 2022

Fields of Law

  • Patent Law
  • Utility Model Law
  • Employees’ Inventions
  • Trademark Law
  • Design Law
  • Trademark and Product Piracy
  • Expert Opinions
  • Costs

Das könnte Sie auch interessieren:

3. June 2024
What is the public allowed to know?

What is the public allowed to know?

4. March 2022
Grant for European IP Protection: SME Fund 2022

Grant for European IP Protection: SME Fund 2022

25. February 2022
CODE-X vs. Cody’s: Likelihood of confusion in drinks?

CODE-X vs. Cody’s: Likelihood of confusion in drinks?

24. February 2022
EOS lip balm no 3D trademark – appeal before ECJ not admissible

EOS lip balm no 3D trademark – appeal before ECJ not admissible

21. February 2022
CFI: Pumpkin seed oil + PGI symbol

CFI: Pumpkin seed oil + PGI symbol

15. February 2022
SPOTIFY v POTIFY – a ‘pot’ app

SPOTIFY v POTIFY – a ‘pot’ app

Contact us or request a call back

+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0
[email protected]
Request a call back

Footer

Contact

Hanauer Landstrasse 287
D – 60314 Frankfurt am Main
Deutschland
+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0
+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 199
[email protected]

Office Hours
Moday – Friday:   08:00-18:00

Fields of Law

  • Patent Law
  • Utility Model Law
  • Employees’ Inventions
  • Trademark Law
  • Design Law
  • Trademark and Product Piracy
  • Expert Opinions
  • Costs

Law Firm

  • Request non-binding call back
  • Company
  • Our Law Firm
  • ISO Certificate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Data handling for clients
  • Imprint

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • xing
  • Email

Newsletter Signup

Newsletter INT

© MD LEGAL Patentanwalt, European Patent Attorney PartG

Contact Form

 

Give us a call, send us an email or fill out the contact form.

+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0
[email protected]

Rückruf INT

Please note: If we deal specifically with your individual case, this is what is known as an initial consultation. In accordance with Section 34 of the Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz, this incurs one-off costs of 190 euros plus MwSt. We will be happy to assist you in a personal consultation after our telephone call.

Kontaktformular

 

Rufen Sie uns an, schicken Sie uns eine Mail oder füllen Sie das Kontaktformular aus.

+49 (0) 69 / 606 278 – 0
[email protected]

Rückruf

Um dieses Angebot nutzen zu können, müssen Sie der Speicherung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten zustimmen. Wir behandeln diese streng vertraulich und verwenden sie nur zur Kontaktaufnahme mit Ihnen. Mehr dazu lesen Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.

Bitte beachten Sie: Wenn wir uns konkret mit Ihrem Einzelfall befassen, ist dies eine sogenannte Erstberatung. Für eine solche entstehen gemäß § 34 Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz einmalige Kosten in Höhe von 190 Euro plus MwSt. Gerne helfen wir Ihnen im Anschluss an unser Telefonat in einem persönlichen Beratungsgespräch weiter.