Brexit and its implications on Intellectual Property matters keeps going through. A new communication has been published through the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), informing that the European Union and United Kingdom have ratified the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. 

This last update informs that United Kingdom is allowed to depart from the European continent, on January 31, 2020 and start the transition period from February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. During the transition period, both Offices will continue operating as it has been done, meaning that the European Union trademark registrations, community design registrations and unregistered community designs will be also recognized by the UK Office. 

Likewise, at the end of the transition period, the IPO will convert the above- mentioned registrations into comparable UK rights, which will come into effect on January 1, 2021. 

Applicants of EU applications in process during the transition period, will have a period of nine months from the end of the transition period for filing the applications before the IPO.