This modernization of French law awaited by trademark practitioners and owners will have important practical consequences in terms of trademark protection and defence strategy.The new provisions are almost immediately applicable – since with the exception of the procedural changes that will come into force on 1st April 2020 – they entered into force on 11 December 2019 (i.e. the day after the publication of the implementing decree of 9 November 2019).
Simplified renewal of international registrationsInternational registrations are valid for ten years and can be renewed directly with WIPO. Amendments to Rule 30 of the Regulations under the Protocol simplify renewals considerably.For Contracting Parties that have declared for an individual fee per class, the renewal fee will be calculated taking into account only the number of classes for which protection has been granted.The simplification means that holders of international registrations who have been granted partial protection and are appealing such decision will no longer be required to pay individual fees for classes that are not protected upon renewal.Consequently, item 4 of the renewal form MM11 and the corresponding option in e-Renewal will be removed because they will no longer be required. Item 4 was used to give instructions to renew the international registration for all the goods and services with respect to a Contracting Party where the mark had been only partially protected. The new MM11 form will be available for download as from February 1, 2020.
