Get ready for trade mark changes in Europe

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Get ready for trade mark changes in Europe

Far-reaching changes to the Community trade mark and national trade mark systems will come into effect early next year, after they were approved in a vote in the European Parliament

Yesterday's vote was the final legislative hurdle in the EU trade mark reform package, which has been discussed over many years. The final texts are expected to be published soon, and will come into effect after 90 days, which will probably be in early April.

The package includes changes to the EU Trade Marks Directive, which EU member states will have three years to implement. One of the significant reforms is that national offices will have to offer administrative cancellation proceedings: those that do not already provide these will have up to seven years to introduce them.

The package also includes a revised Trade Mark Regulation, which is the text that governs the CTM. Under the changes, the CTM will be renamed the EU trade mark and OHIM will become the EUIPO.

The changes will see a number of fees reduced, and also enable trade mark owners to seize counterfeit goods in transit through the EU. In addition, they attempt to harmonise practices between national offices in a number of areas.

For more details, see the information published by: INTA, ECTA and MARQUES.

For background, read: EU trade mark reform - the six key changes, published earlier this year.

Managing IP will publish a detailed analysis of the impact of the changes early in 2016.





more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

The EUIPO expanding its mediation services and a new Riyadh office for Simmons & Simmons were also among the top talking points this week
David Boundy explains why Pierson Ferdinand provides a platform that will allow him to use administrative law to address IP concerns
Developments included an anti-anti-suit injunction being granted for the first time, and the court clarifying that it can adjudicate over alleged infringements that occurred before June 2023
Griffith Hack’s Amanda Stark, one of our ‘Top 250 Women in IP’, explains how peer support from male colleagues is crucial, and reveals why the life sciences sector is thriving
The case, which could offer clarity on the training of AI models within the context of copyright law, will go to trial in the UK next week
CMS IndusLaw co-founder Suneeth Katarki says he plans to hire a patent team in India and argues that IP should play a major role within full-service firms
Partners at the firm explain why they’ve seen more SEP cases at the ITC, and why they are comfortable recommending the forum to clients
The association, which will head to London in 2026, hosted its flagship event in the Californian city in 2005, 2015 and 2025
Partner Charlie Henn reveals some key achievements from 2024 and explains how the firm takes advantage of its experience
The Delhi High Court declined to stop Dr. Reddy’s from manufacturing Novo Nordisk’s drug, but will continue to hear the Danish company’s injunction application
Gift this article