Brexit is looming: UK Intellectual Property Office issues updated guidance for January 1st

With everything else happening in the world, it is easy to forget about the dominant news story of 2019, Brexit.

31st December 2020 is the end of the transition period and it seems at this stage, that nothing is for certain. At present the Withdrawal Agreement is in place and therefore the rules surrounding IP for 2021 follow this.

The UK Intellectual Property Office have updated their guidance and published key changes to UK intellectual property law that will take place.

The new guidance covers key changes and business advice on IP rights in the following areas:

  • Use of representatives and address requirements to represent
  • UK Address for Service (AfS)
  • Trade Marks
  • Designs
  • International trade marks and designs
  • Unregistered designs
  • Patents
  • Supplementary Protection Certificates including changes affecting SPCs due to the Northern Ireland Protocol
  • Parallel exports from the UK to the EEA
  • Copyright
  • Geographical Indications (GIs)

Information on these changes can be found through the below link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/intellectual-property-after-1-january-2021

In addition, a webinar is being held on 17 November 2020 to assist businesses to become transition- ready. The UK Intellectual Property Office is contributing to this and the details will be confirmed at a later date.

If you need any assistance in preparing for your business for Brexit, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

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