UK Amends International Trade Mark Rules To Allow Partial Replacement

16th December 2024

The UK has updated its trade mark legislation to allow for partial replacement of domestic trade marks with international registrations under the Madrid System.

The Trade Marks (International Registration) Order 2008 has been amended to implement changes to Rule 21 of the Madrid Protocol Regulations. These changes relate to requests for the replacement of UK trade mark registrations with international registrations.

This means domestic trade marks can be partially replaced by international registrations. This will be possible even when they only cover some of the goods and services listed in the domestic registration.

Previously, replacement was only allowed when the international registration covered all goods and services in the domestic registration.

The amendment came into force on 21 November 2024. It ensures UK compliance with Madrid Protocol obligations ahead of the 1 February 2025 deadline. It aligns UK practice with updated international requirements.

What this means for trade mark holders
Trade mark holders can now:

replace their UK trade mark registration with an international registration that covers fewer goods and services

maintain protection for goods and services not covered by the international registration through their existing UK registration

Full details of the legislative change can be found in the Trade Marks (International Registration) (Amendment) Order 2024.

The Manual of trade marks practice - International examination guide has been updated to reflect these changes.