The EU Trademark reform package [EU Legislation in Progress]

Written by Tambiama Madiega (1st edition),

The Commission, the Council and the European Parliament (EP) have reached a second-reading agreement on the trademark reform package. Following the Legal Affairs Committee reports adopted on 3 December 2015, the EP plenary is set to approve the amended legislation and the renaming of the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) as ‘European Union Intellectual Property Office’.

In March 2013, the Commission presented a package of proposals for amending the Trademark Regulation and the Trademark Directive as well as for adjusting the fees payable to OHIM. The Commission’s main objective in proposing this reform was to make the EU trademark system more accessible, efficient and less costly for business.

The new legislation specifically aims at simplifying, accelerating and harmonising trademark application procedures; at increasing legal certainty by clarifying some provisions; at ensuring better coordination between the EU trademark agency and national offices for the purpose of promoting convergence of practices and common tools; at putting the legislation into line with the Lisbon Treaty; and at updating the governance rules of the EU trademark agency.

Versions

• December 2015: The EU Trademark reform package (1st edition)