Taylor Wessing LLP

This Practice Note examines the main routes of legal action that can be taken against the UK trade in counterfeit goods. It covers: the roles of customs authorities, Trading Standards and the police; civil litigation for trade mark infringement; and private criminal prosecution.

This Practice Note provides a brief outline of the Madrid international trade mark system explaining the procedure for application and registration of international trade marks. It covers the role of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the Madrid Agreement 1891 and the related Madrid Protocol.

This Practice Note sets out the law relating to parallel imports (or grey market goods) in the context of trade marks and considers when a trade mark owner’s rights will be exhausted and when the right holder is able to prevent non-EEA grey market goods from being marketed in the EEA or UK. It also provides practical guidance upon the law relating to the repackaging of goods, as per the requirements set out in the Bristol-Myers Squibb case (commonly referred to as the BMS conditions).

This Flowchart provides an overview of the European Union Trade Mark registration process as implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). It covers the key stages of application; publication; opposition; registration; cancellation and expiry.