1993 12.20, the EU conference adopted the Regulation on European * * * Homologous Trademarks, referred to as CMTR. Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and other EU countries began to implement the trademark system used in all EU countries (by May 2004 1, the EU expanded to 25 countries).

The EU trademark and its registration application are valid throughout the EU, and the trademark application and its corresponding registration will be automatically extended to all 25 member states. EU trademark registration has a registration procedure controlled by OHIM, without the intervention of industrial property offices of various countries.

-Advantages: one application can be submitted at a time, and the use in any member country is regarded as the use in 25 countries, and the transfer, change or renewal of the trademark will take effect in 25 countries; The registration fee is low, which is much cheaper than that of other countries, regardless of registration or renewal.

-Disadvantages: As the 25 member countries use different languages, the meaning or pronunciation of the trademarks may be similar. As long as one of the 25 member countries raises an objection and the objection is established, the registration of the whole * * * homonym trademark will be rejected. Although the rejected trademark can be converted into a national application, and the original EU trademark application date is retained, the applicant must also pay the conversion fee to each country.

The exclusive right to use a trademark is valid for ten years from the date of application, and the validity period of each renewal registration is ten years.

In addition, I would like to remind you that the United Kingdom has left the European Union, and the trademark must be registered separately if it wants to take effect in the United Kingdom.