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ARTICLE · 02 MAY 2018

Benelux Countries Update Trade Mark Law

Van Bael & Bellis
Van Bael & Bellis
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The Protocol contains almost exclusively provisions the implementation of which is mandatory under the Directive.

European UnionIntellectual Property
Thibaut D'Hulst
Thibaut D'Hulst
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On 11 December 2017, top representatives of the Benelux countries signed a protocol (the "Protocol") amending the Benelux Convention on Intellectual Property (Trade marks and Designs) (the "BCIP") as regards the implementation of Directive (EU) 2015/2436 to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trade marks (the "Directive") (see VBB on Belgian Business Law, Volume 2015, No. 12, p. 16, available at www.vbb.com). The Directive covers both the substantive and procedural aspects of trade mark law and aims to modernise and simplify trade mark registration systems.

The Protocol contains almost exclusively provisions the implementation of which is mandatory under the Directive. The most significant elements of the Protocol are the following:

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