On May 1, 2020 the last part of the German Trademark Law Modernization Act (Markenrechtsmodernisierungsgesetz – “MaMoG”), which contains practical relevant amendments to the procedural rules of the German trademark system, took effect. In particular, an administrative procedure for the revocation and the invalidation of trademarks based on relative grounds has been implemented, adding a new, cost-effective, and procedurally expedient tool to the range of possible methods of attacking adverse trademark registrations. It is expected that the amendments will be accompanied by a higher fluctuation of registrations and increases in demand for strategic counseling.
In our alert, we will provide you with a short overview of the new types of proceedings available and highlight their strategical relevance and effects.
Read our alert.