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24 June 2016Patents

UK-based IP organisations urge for calm after ‘Brexit’ vote

The UK has voted to leave the EU today but UK-based intellectual property organisations are telling rights owners not to panic.

British citizens voted by 52% to 48% in favour of leaving. A two-year negotiation period outlining the terms of the UK’s exit is now expected to follow.

Both the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) and the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) said in statements today, June 24, that it was business as usual but that they would work with the government to ensure the best possible outcome.

Kate O’Rourke, president of ITMA, said: “We would encourage trademark and registered design owners not to panic—European Union trademarks and registered Community designs remain valid in the UK and there is no immediate loss of IP protection.

“There is likely to be no change for at least two years, giving IP rights owners plenty of time to plan.”

She added that ITMA will be working hard with the UK’s Intellectual Property Office and will advocate for the “transition of all EU-based trademark and design rights to UK-based protection to be simple and cost effective”.

“We will also be calling on the UK government to ensure that UK practitioners remain entitled to represent clients before the European Union Intellectual Property Office,” she added.

Tony Rollins, president of CIPA, called for calm.

“The UK will not immediately cease to be a member of the EU,” he said.

“For now UK patent attorneys and registered trademark attorneys will still be able to perform the same work they do now, and UK and overseas IP owners will not lose any IP rights or any access to EU IP registration systems.”

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