Major reform to community trademark system

On December 15, 2015 the European Parliament approved important reforms to the trademark system. The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market will be renamed the “European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)”, and community trademarks will be known as “European Union trademarks”. There will be a reduction for renewal fees of community trademarks which may accumulate to 37 %. The filing fees for one class will become cheaper, for three classes more expensive. Trademark applications concerning distinctive sounds, smells and tastes can be more easily obtained, since the requirement for a graphic representation will be lowered. Furthermore, trademark owners will have better rights to seize counterfeit goods in transit. The new legislation (Regulation (EU) No 2015/2424) which has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union will enter into force on March 23, 2016.