Some of the most significant changes to the trademark law system
in the European Union since its establishment in 1996 went into
effect earlier this year. Brand owners should be particularly aware
of the main changes outlined below:
Terminology
The most visible reform involves changes in nomenclature: As of
March 23, 2016, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal
Market, the trademark registry for the European Union, is known as
the EU Intellectual Property Office. And the Community trade mark,
which provides protection in all 28 EU member states, is now known
as the European Union trade mark.
Fee Structure
The fee structure for filing EUTM applications is also changing.
Previously, applicants could file one application covering up to
three "classes," or categories, of goods and services,
for 900 Euros. This three-for-one pricing structure often
incentivized applicants to file for more classes than necessary.
The reforms introduce a tiered fee structure:
