EU - Power your business with the SME Fund for IP Rights Registration : Trademarks and designs

Applications for the EU SME Fund for IP rights registration second window open as from March 1st 2021 -deadline March 31st 2021.

The EU fund is a grant scheme created to help European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access their intellectual property rights.

It covers IP pre-diagnostic services (IP scan) and/or trade mark and design applications.

If you are eligible to meet the criteria which you can find online you can apply for the fund.

Via https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/online-services/sme-fund#checklist you can find the checklist and if all the criteria are met you can apply. The deadline for the application within the second designated period is already March, 31th of this year. You can apply as from March, 1st. When your application is granted, you will receive a confirmation via email with a reference number.

It is of utmost importance to contact us immediately when you receive the confirmation of the grant of your application.

After the trademark application is timely filed by A-Law after receipt of the confirmation of the grant, you can apply yourself for the reimbursement.

Please note that the United Kingdom is - following the Brexit - no longer covered by a European Union trademark. If you also conduct activities in the United Kingdom a subsequent application for the UK will be needed. Please indicate if we can also assist you with this application.

Why register your IP rights and apply for a reimbursement under the EU fund ?

Registering a trade mark gives you exclusive rights over distinctive signs – such as names, logos, colours, images, patterns, shapes, packagings of goods, or sounds – which identify your products and distinguish your goods or services from others.

Design protection guarantees you the exclusive right to use a design, which includes making, offering, putting on the market, importing, exporting or using the product in which your design is incorporated or to which it is applied. If you give your authorisation, third parties can use your design in their products.

For more information on the above or our services on IP protection and commercial cooperation, contact Attorney-At-Law Roeland Jans, Head IP Department at info@a-law.eu or fill in our online contact form.