Six Months On: How Has Brexit Impacted IP?

It's been six months since the UK left the EU, triggering a number of changes in the business landscape, including around intellectual property (IP) such as designs and trademarks. So, what is the new reality for IP in the UK?

What has changed?

Since 1 January 2021, EU trademarks and Community registered designs no longer cover the UK. The UK therefore created “comparable” UK trade marks and registered designs for all registered EU equivalent registrations at no cost to ensure that rights owners' UK interests remain protected.

Whilst the parallel importation of IP-protected goods, lawfully placed on the EEA market, from the EEA to the UK will continue to be permitted, it may not be possible for businesses to freely export IP-protected goods from the UK to the EEA without the consent of the IP rights holder.