Even before Brexit, Grünecker already had a core team of UK Chartered Patent & Design Attorneys and a Solicitor of England and Wales to assist clients with their UK IP needs. Thus, Grünecker was perfectly placed to add a UK Address for Service (AfS) in compliance with the Brexit regulation requiring a UK AfS for all new matters arising before the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO).

The new regulation means that all new applications (for patents, designs and trademarks) and contentious matters before the UKIPO, from January 1, 2021, require an AfS within the UK, Gibraltar or Channel Islands. This also applies for the UK part of a granted EP Patent (so called validation in the UK).

A UK address for service is not needed for existing proceedings and pending applications (i.e. up to December 30, 2020). A UK address for service is also not needed for “cloned” UK rights – a UK trademark or design registration corresponding to a registered EU or International (designating EU) trademark or design for 3 years from 1 January 2021, including for any proceedings begun within those first 3 years.

What this means for you? No action is needed from your side either for the existing rights, or for the new applications, and we continue to represent your UK rights as before, without having to rely on a UK based law firm.

For further questions, please contact:

Dr. Jegannath Korukottu and Dr. Josephine Caneilles of our UK Patent and Design team; and Ms. Emily Wilson (Solicitor of England and Wales) of our UK Trademark team.