We are here to navigate the Brexit landscape with you and make sure you are aware of the changes introduced since the UK left the EU at 11pm UK time on 31 December 2020.

Businesses are still grappling with the complexities and remaining uncertainties around the impact of Brexit but Mewburn Ellis is ready to help you manage your intellectual property with confidence, despite the changes introduced since 1st January 2021.

Mewburn Ellis can save you time, money and help provide peace of mind. As a firm, we have always been forward-looking in our approach to IP. For more than 150 years we’ve been finding new ways to help our clients nurture, plan and protect their ideas. We’re delighted to continue this tradition.

Watch our webinar

View our webinar recording which gives an overview of the impact Brexit had on existing EU trade mark rights, both EUTMs and EU designations of International Registrations, outlining how protection for brand owners was maintained in the UK. It discusses some nuances between the two kinds of rights and how the approach differed between granted and pending marks, before considering various related topics including representation and ongoing proceedings. It also covers what Brexit meant for designs and patents. Access our Brexit webinar recording.

Navigating the Brexit landscape

We understand that Brexit fatigue may have set in for some, but it's important that our clients are aware of recent developments, and we want to reassure you that your intellectual property (IP) rights remain in safe hands with us.

We developed our “Navigating the Brexit Landscape” blog series which focused on what Brexit meant for trade marks, patents and designs, and we are keeping these on ur website for the foreseeable future in case they are of interest.

Read our Brexit blogs

Read our Brexit blog series

Brexit IP advice summary

What does Brexit mean for Trade Marks?

Holders of EU Trade Marks (EUTMs) at the end of the transition period were given a fully equivalent UK right at no official cost. This means that if you owned 10 EUTMs, on the day of exit, on the day after you owned 10 UK registrations plus 10 EU registrations (covering the remaining 27 member states). The UK registrations retained the original filing, priority and seniority dates and the first renewal dates will be the same as the original EU registrations.

Applicants for EUTMs that were pending at the end of the transition period had until 30th September 2021 to reapply for the equivalent UK rights. Again, the original filing, priority and seniority dates were all retained for these applications.


What does Brexit mean for Designs?

Holders of Registered Community Designs (RCDs) at the end of the transition period were given a fully equivalent UK right at no official cost. This means that if you owned 10 RCDs on the day of exit, on the day after you owned 10 UK registrations plus 10 EU registrations (covering the remaining 27 member states). The UK registrations retained the original filing, priority and seniority dates and the first renewal dates will be the same as the original EU registrations.

Applicants for RCDs that were pending at the end of the transition period had until 30th September 2021 to reapply for the equivalent UK rights. Again, the original filing, priority and seniority dates will all be retained.

 

What does Brexit mean for Patents?

Little has changed after Brexit for patents because the existing European patent system was unaffected by the UK leaving the EU.

Talk to our Brexit specialists

Robert Watson

ROBERT WATSON

Partner, Patent Attorney

Andy King

ANDY KING

Partner, Chartered Trade Mark Attorney

Kate ORourke

KATE O'ROURKE

Partner, Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, Solicitor

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