No change to EU trade marks and designs during transition period

The UK left the EU at 11pm GMT 31 January 2020. It now enters a transition period during which the status quo is preserved and all EU trade mark and design rights continue to cover the UK.

The transition period is presently due to end on 31 December 2020 (although extensions are possible). At that point, the EU rights will cease to cover the UK. However, the UK authorities will automatically clone existing EU registered rights at the end of the transition period so that no registered rights are lost (see UKIPO press notice here).

We will be writing to our clients to advise them of the detail in due course. We have opened an office in Germany in order that we can continue to represent clients in relation to EU IP rights.