Administrative Invalidation And Revocation Actions Now Available

As discussed in our February 2020 article, a new French trademark law was passed in November 2019 to meet the requirements of EU Directive 2015/2436 and streamline European trademark practice. While the majority of the changes were implemented on December 16, 2019, the procedural changes concerning invalidity and revocation actions, including the transfer of jurisdiction over such actions from the local courts to the French Trademark Office (the "INPI"), entered into force on April 1, 2020.

Jurisdiction
Shifting invalidity and revocations actions from court-based litigations to administrative proceedings was intended to make it easier, more affordable, and more time-efficient for interested parties to bring such actions. In the case of revocation actions, the shift was also intended to promote the clearing of deadwood from the French Trademark Register.