European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has put forward proposals to reduce the cost of applying for Community trade marks by about 40%.
Following an agreement by EU member states in September, as reported by Managing IP, the CTM application fee is likely to be reduced form €1,750 to "around €1,000".
The reduction is required as OHIM, the Office that administers CTMs, has a surplus of more than €300 million.
McCreevy said: "It will mean considerable savings for European companies - in particular SMEs. The fee structure itself will be simplified, significantly reducing red tape and the administrative burden in the handling of trade mark fees, to the benefit of both users and the OHIM."
The fee reduction will have to be formally approved by EU member states through the so-called "comitology process", and is likely to be effective sometime next year.
As part of the deal reached by member states, measures will be taken to pass up to 50% of renewal fees to member states to promote the trade mark system.
However, as this will take several years to implement, part of the existing surplus will be passed to national offices in the meantime.
Source: Managing Intellectual Property, November 2008
For almost all businesses today, the marketplace is now global rather than a local. This presents huge opportunities....
The UK Bribery Act 2010 came into force on 1 July 2011 and is the most far reaching of any EU or US anti-corruption....
Last month, Finish member, Attorneys-at-Law Juridia Ltd successfully represented the German KSB Aktiengesellschaft - one....
Latvian law firm KLOTINI & SERGIS is currently representing Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), S.A.....
In September, Andres Past Senior Partner from Concordia was invited to speak at the "Health Insurance Contract" conference,....
The publication of Lord Justice Jackson's Review of Civil Litigation Costs has sparked radical procedural reform in the....
In April this year, Norbert Mauer, a lawyer and Public Notary joined fellow Notaries Uwe Kärgel and Christian Steden....
The partners at TLT, the ELF member firm for England & Wales, have reappointed David Pester as Managing Partner and....
Last month's general meeting hosted by Danish member Lexsos Advokater and held in Copenhagen was attended by representatives....
In the last few years, the success of eBay and the diffusion of online stores, providing goods and services at better....
Towards the end of 2010, Stian Finne Lange and Geir Knutsen, partners from member firm Kco advokater applied....
On 28 December 2010, Christian Steden, President of European Law Firm and Partner of Kärgel de Maizière &....
For many years there has been a stark difference in the treatment of pre-nuptials contracts by the English courts and....
Swedish member, Lindskog Malmström has been voted winner of small full service law firm of the year by InterContinental....
TLT has been named as one of the most innovative law firms in Europe at the Financial Times' Innovative Lawyers Awards....
Athens was the venue for the third general meeting of 2010 where law firms representing 22 European jurisdictions met....
Attorneys-at-Law Juridia Ltd has been listed as one of Finland's leading law firms specialized in intellectual property....
Representatives from 21 member firms convened last month at the European Law Firm general meeting in Stockholm.
Following....
Despite numerous EU directives, the way that member states have chosen to address matters relating to the incorporation....
European Law firm is looking positively to the future following the election of two new Board members and a new President....