The following changes will be implemented as of 1 November 2023:
It was agreed to expressly determine the start and end date of the deadline for responding to provisional refusals.
Contracting Parties are required to give a minimum period of 2 months to respond to a provisional refusal.
Failure to comply with the new requirements for notification of provisional refusal is considered a failure of the Trademark Office to comply with the new requirements for notification of provisional refusal.
The Trademark Offices shall be obliged to notify the International Bureau of the time limits and the means of calculating them.
If it is not possible to provide the address of the holder of earlier rights or of the opponent, the Trademark Offices shall be exempted from this obligation.
As of 1 November 2024, other amendments relating to communications from designated Contracting Parties which are not covered by the Regulations which the International Bureau may have and adjustments to the wording of the Protocol will enter into force.
These modifications seek to provide uniformity in the time limits for users of this system to defend their applications.
