UK Trade Marks: Periods Reduced with Immediate Effect

Deadlines in UK trade mark matters have been changed without warning. Opposition deadlines for UK national trade mark applications, and for UK designations of trade mark applications under the Madrid Protocol, and deadlines to extend the opposition period have been reduced by one day. 

On 30th September, without prior warning, a new practice notice was issued by the UK Intellectual Property Office.  This has effectively shortened by one day the period during which UK national trade mark applications or UK designations of trade mark applications under the Madrid Protocol, may be opposed, or extensions of time to oppose trade mark applications may be obtained.

The notice can be found via the following link:   http://www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-types/pro-tm/t-law/t-tpn/t-tpn-2010/t-tpn-42010.htm. This change has an immediate and urgent effect.  If a UK trade mark application or designation is published for opposition, for instance on 11th October 2010, the deadline to oppose