News story: Division and merger of international trade mark registrations.

From 1 February 2019, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) enabled international trade mark applications to be divided and merged.

The change allows applicants, who are refused part of their mark, to apply for the new international trade mark. The acceptable elements of their application will be protected. Applicants can then address the remaining parts of their application.

The new rule allows holders to then merge the two parts of their trade mark back to together once the objections are resolved. Once merged, holders would pay only one renewal fee.