Docketing

Community Trade Marks and the new European Union Trade Mark

• Effective 23 March 2016 the term Community Trade Mark will be replaced by the term European Union Trade Mark (EU Trade Mark) and the Community Trade Mark Office, known formerly as OHIM, will henceforth be known as the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

• ...the previous rule allowing a Community Trade Mark to be renewed up until the last day of the month in which the renewal date falls due will no longer apply in respect of registrations that fall due for renewal on or after 23 March 2016. Hence, any registrations falling due for renewal on or after 23 March 2016 must be renewed by the due date in order to avoid any late filing fees.

Follow-up on status of applications filed:

• Brazil: As of April 2016, the BPTO is currently examining applications filed until June 2013.

• India: The India Trademark Office branches have recently ordered abandonment of a large number of applications; check your client's portfolio to see if abandonment occurred in error: