Patents, Trade Marks, Designs & Copyright
Posted on 4/8/2016

Brexit – The facts from the IPO

The UKIPO has issued a guide on the future of IP laws following the EU referendum.

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has issued a guide on the future of intellectual property laws following the EU Referendum.

Entitled ‘IP and BREXIT: The facts’, it seeks to dispel various inaccurate speculation of the impact of Brexit on intellectual property rights available in the UK, and accessible to UK businesses.

Very sensibly in our view, the UKIPO confirms that it’s business as usual for the time being. There is no cause for panic, and not need for any action to be taken as yet. UK businesses have and will continue to have, post Brexit, access to all available intellectual property rights.

A change that may take place, depending on the terms of Brexit, is that EU Registered Trade Marks and Community designs, which have effect throughout the EU, may eventually no longer have effect in the UK.

The government is currently exploring various options as to how to handle this and will be consulting users of the systems as to the best way forward, with a view to providing continuity of protection in the UK. 

You can read the full guide from the IPO here and we will keep you updated as further information is released.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your IP position as a result of the UK referendum decision, please call us on 08444 77 00 22 or contact your usual Wilson Gunn attorney.

Wilson Gunn