With Sajid Javid, the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer,
maintaining that the UK is leaving the European Union in "...a matter of days...deal or
no-deal" IP owners need to consider the practical effects
of such an outcome.
For patents, there is no practical effect as European
patents are obtained through the European Patent Office (an
intergovernmental organisation) and not through the EU. Business as
usual.
For trademarks and designs, the general message is
"Keep calm and carry on" The UK government has passed
legislation concerning post-Brexit IP arrangements (which could
become operative in both a deal or no deal situation), which means
that:
- for pending EU
applications, applicants will have nine
months post-Brexit day to file a new UK application claiming the
filing (or priority) date of their EU application;
