UK INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY OFFICE News Release issued by The Government News Network
on 1 October 2007
A new simplified
trade mark registration system will help businesses register new
products, Intellectual Property and Quality Minister Lord Triesman
said today.
Welcoming amendments to Section 5 of the Trade Marks Act 1994,
which comes into force today, Lord Triesman said:
"The new system will make it easier for businesses wanting
to launch new products and protect them with UK trade marks. It
will also help users by aligning the UK regime with the European one".
Ian Fletcher, Chief Executive of the UK Intellectual Property
Office said:
"This is a major change which affects every trade mark
holder and applicant. We are confident that having now
introduced the amendments we will maintain our high standard of
service to all our users".
Today's changes have been introduced following a
comprehensive period of consultation with stakeholders.
Editor Notes
- The UK-IPO web site can be found at http://www.ipo.gov.uk
- A trade mark is a sign which can distinguish the goods and
services of one trader from those of others. A sign includes, for
example, words, logos, pictures or a combination of these. http://www.ipo.gov.uk/whatis/whatis-tm.htm
- In future trade mark examiners will no longer automatically
refuse applications where there is an earlier similar trade mark.
Instead it will be for the holder of the earlier mark to seek to
block the application if they so wish. This is intended to ensure
that applications will only be blocked where they affect
others' trading interests.
- Information about the changes can be viewed on the UK-IPO web
page http://www.ipo.gov.uk/tm/t-decisionmaking/t-law/t-law-notice/t-law-notice-relativegrounds.htm