The European Union Trade Mark Regulations 2016
Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation
1.
(1)
These Regulations may be cited as the European Union Trade Mark Regulations 2016 and come into force on 6th April 2016.
(2)
These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
(3)
In these Regulations “the 1994 Act” means the Trade Marks Act 1994.
Amendments to the 1994 Act
2.
The 1994 Act is amended as follows.
3.
In the heading of Part II and in the italic heading before section 51, for “Community” substitute “European Union”.
4.
“51.Meaning of “European Union trade mark”
In this Act—
“European Union trade mark” has the meaning given by Article 1(1) of the European Union Trade Mark Regulation; and
“the European Union Trade Mark Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 of 26 February 2009 on the European Union Trade Mark5.”
5.
(1)
Section 52 is amended as follows.
(2)
In the heading, for “Community”, substitute “European Union”.
(3)
In subsections (1) to (3), for “Community” in each place substitute “European Union”.
(4)
Omit subsection (2)(a).
(5)
In subsection (3)(b), for “Article 89” substitute “Article 93”.
(6)
“(3A)
The reference in subsections (1) and (2)(d) to the European Union Trade Mark Regulation includes a reference to Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20th December 1993 on the Community trade mark6.”.
Amendments to the Community Trade Mark Regulations 2006
F16.
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F17.
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F18.
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F19.
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F110.
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F111.
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F112.
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Transitional Provisions
13.
(1)
Anything done or having effect as if done under, for the purposes of, or in reliance on the old Regulation or a provision of the old Regulation has effect, so far as necessary for continuing its effect after the coming into force of these Regulations, as if done under, for the purposes of, or in reliance on the current Regulation or the corresponding provision of that Regulation.
(2)
In this regulation—
“the old Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20th December 1993 on the Community Trade Mark;
“the current Regulation” means Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 of 26th February 2009 on the European Union Trade Mark.
Saving provision
14.
Subject to the amendments made by regulations 6 to 12, any regulations made under section 52 of the 1994 Act which have effect immediately before the coming into force of these Regulations have effect after then as if made under that section as amended by these Regulations.
Consequential amendments etc
15.
The Schedule (which contains amendments etc consequential on the amendments made by regulations 2 to 5) has effect.
SCHEDULECONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS ETC
The 1994 Act
1.
2.
In section 8(5) of the 1994 Act, for “the Community Trade Mark Regulation” substitute “Council Regulation (EC) No 40/94 of 20th December 1993 on the Community trade mark”.
3.
In section 104 of the 1994 Act—
(a)
“European Union trade mark
section 51”;
and
(b)
“European Union Trade Mark Regulation
section 51”
The Community Trade Mark (Fees) Regulations 1995
4.
The Trade Mark Rules 2008
5.
These Regulations amend sections 51 and 52 of the Trade Marks Act 1994 (“the Act”) and also amend the Community Trade Mark Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1027) (“the CTM Regulations”).
The CTM Regulations make provision for the operation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 40/94 of 20th December 1993 on the Community Trade Mark (OJ No. L11, 14.1.1994, p1) (“the Old Regulation”).
The amendments are necessitated by the repeal of the Old Regulation and its replacement by the codified Council Regulation (EC) No. 207/2009 on the European Union Trade Mark (OJ No. L78, 24.3.2009, p1) as amended by Regulation (EU) No. 2015/2424 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16th December 2015 (OJ No. L341, 24.12.2015, p21) (“the New Regulation”).
The amendments to the Act and CTM Regulations reflect the change in terminology adopted in the New Regulation with the substitution of references to European Union trade marks for Community trade marks and also substitute references to Articles of the New Regulation for the corresponding Articles of the Old Regulation.
As a consequential matter, the Community Trade Mark (Fees) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/3175) are revoked. Under the Old Regulation it was possible to file an application for a Community trade mark with either the Intellectual Property Office or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market. The fee prescribed under the 1995 fees Regulations applied where an application was filed at the Intellectual Property Office. Under the New Regulation an application for a European Union Trade Mark may only be filed at the EU Intellectual Property Office and so applications may no longer be filed with the Intellectual Property Office, hence the revocation of the relevant fee regulation.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.
An Explanatory Memorandum is available alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.