Guides

The Intellectual Property Offices of the European Union Intellectual Property Network continue to collaborate in the context of converging trade mark and design practices.

This Common Practice establishes a common understanding of the notion of subject matter, as well as general principles on how to perform the assessment of signs describing the subject matter of the goods and/or services for which protection is sought.

The Common Practice document is made public through this Common Communication with the purpose of further increasing transparency, legal certainty and predictability for the benefit of examiners and users alike.

The implementation date of the Common Practice for Cyprus is set at 16/05/2026 for procedures that will initiate after the implementation date.

CP16_Common Practice_Signs describing the subject matter of goods and or services.docx