Brexit Update – UK’s Withdrawal from the EU extended in principle to 31 October 2019

The UK and the EU have agreed to postpone the date of the UK leaving the EU.  Tomorrow’s deadline of 12 April 2019 has now been extended to 31 October 2019 which averts the immediate prospect of a “no-deal” Brexit.  

It is hoped that a withdrawal agreement will be ratified by the UK Parliament by 31 October 2019 – or at an earlier date – which would mean a transitional period until 31 December 2020 during which EU law will continue to apply in the UK.  

Whenever the withdrawal of the UK from the EU takes place, whether at 31 October 2019 or at the end of the transitional period, the UK Intellectual Property Office will unilaterally grant equivalent UK rights to owners of registered EU Trade Marks and Designs.  There will also be transitional arrangements to allow the owners of pending EU applications to file new UK applications with the same filing date. 

We will continue to keep you updated on Brexit developments and advise how they will impact on your IP rights.  Whatever happens in the future, Abel + Imray will continue to represent its clients directly before the EUIPO through its new Spanish office.