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Latest members of International TM System

By Sarah Chatterley.

The International Register (or Madrid Protocol), is an International method of registering a trade mark in a co-ordinated manner,  in multiple territories. It offers a cost-effective procedure for obtaining TM registrations. The number of members of this scheme is steadily increasing with India, Rwanda and Mexico being the last to join in 2013.

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Small claims track available for some IP

By Elizabeth Coulson.

Court proceedings are often a costly and time consuming aspect of defending and enforcing intellectual property (IP) and this usually discourages individuals and small companies from taking action against infringers.  

Following the publication of recommendations for streamlining the intellectual property litigation system and for reducing the costs of pursuing lower value claims, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) (previously called the "Patents County Court") successfully introduced procedures to help it deal more efficiently with lower value and less complicated IP claims.

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Croatia joined European Union in July 2013

By Sarah Chatterley.

On 1 July 2013 the European Union expanded as another member joined. With Croatia's accession, the EU will total 28 members. This is good news for Community Trade Mark and Community Design Right applicants and registration owners as their rights will automatically include Croatia. Transitional measures have been in place since December 2012.

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Current members of the EU

There are currently 28 members of the EU and the scope of protection of a Community trade mark (CTM) registration encompasses new members as they join. 

 

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Changes to time limit for filing EP divisional applications

By John Rule.

On 1 April 2014 the rules regarding filing divisional applications stemming from European Patent applications changed. The changes in the rules mean that decisions regarding divisional application strategy no longer need to be made early under the short-lived "two-year" rule that previously applied. 

 

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