Trademarks Registry releases updated Work Manual

The UK Trademarks Registry has issued a new edition of Chapter 6 of its Work Manual. Although the chapter is officially part of an internal publication for Trademarks Registry staff, it is of relevance to trademark practitioners as it explains the registry's practice and examination procedures, in particular, with regard to unconventional marks.

Chapter 6 was overdue an update as the previous version dated from August 1998 with an addendum published in October 1999. The new edition stretches to 186 pages and has been heavily influenced by recent case law from the UK courts and the European Court of Justice, including the Libertel and Sieckmann decisions (for background discussions of these cases, see The future of colour registration is orange and Registrability of smells as trademarks in serious doubt).

Chris McLeod, Hammonds, London