On 23 March 2016, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) which deals with the administration of Community Trade Marks changed its name to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). This aligns with the current naming convention – as in ‘UKIPO’. Meanwhile, The Community Trade Mark will also change its name to the European Union Trade Mark – which will save the explanation as to what is a CTM.

What’s more, the fee structure has changed and OHIM state that it will result in an overall reduction in the amounts paid.

All existing trade marks and trade mark applications will automatically become European Union Trade Marks (EUTM) and the OHIM website is warning users to be vigilant against organisations sending fraudulent invoices under the old and new logos.

You can find out more about this and see the press release on the OHIM website.

Probert Legal are specialists in trade mark and intellectual property law. For further details, please contact Ed Probert at edmundprobert@www.probertlegal.com