Brands: Geographical Indications and Community Trade Marks Pages updated

As promised yesterday, I have just updated my Community Trade Marks page to take account of the new Community Trade Mark Regulations 2006 which come into effect on 29 April 2006. I have also updated my Geographical Indications page to take account of two new Council regulations, Council Regulation No 510/2006 and Council Regulation 509/2006.

The new Council regulations replace regulations 2081/92 and 2082/92. Their purpose is to comply with a recent WTO panel decision and introduce specific rules aimed at simplifying relevant registration procedures. An important change is that applications and objections from third countries may now be made directly to the Commission and eliminates the need for reciprocal and equivalent protection.

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