Yesterday, the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) published a new guide on post-Brexit copyright laws, in a bid to dispel uncertainties surrounding the UK’s role in European Union (EU) copyright legislation since the Brexit vote.
In a detailed statement, the IPO has confirmed that both EU Trade Marks (EUTM) and Registered Community Designs (RCD) will continue to be valid in the UK for as long as the UK remains a full member.
The statement read: “While the UK remains in the EU, our copyright laws will continue to comply with the EU copyright directives, and we will continue to participate in EU negotiations.
“The continued effect of EU directives and regulations following our exit from the EU will depend on the terms of our future relationship,” it added.
The general message expressed was that the UK’s enforcement framework will remain unchanged until EU exit strategies are discussed, confirmed and implemented.
“We are still part of the EU and we will still play a part at the EUIPOs Observatory, and in bodies like Europol. The process for intercepting counterfeits and other infringing goods at the border remains unchanged,” the statement read.
“We will continue to play an active role in the review of the Enforcement Directive, and the Commission’s work on tackling commercial-scale infringement”.
The statement also looked toward the future of the on the enforcement of Intellectual Property (IP), claiming that the UK IPO would look toward delivering a brighter future where “legitimate businesses thrive and consumers are protected”.
The full statement, which was published yesterday, can be read here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ip-and-brexit-the-facts