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IP Reform Enactment Imminent for Bermuda
As reported by HSM IP, Intellectual Property (IP) reform is in the pipeline in Bermuda, with the Government of Bermuda’s Registry General sharing recently that the enactment of its updated Trade Marks Law is anticipated later in 2024. The Registry Read more +
WTR 1000 Recognises HSM IP and Huw Moses in 2024 Guide
World Trade Mark Review (WTR) has recognised HSM IP and Huw Moses in their latest guide: WTR 1000 2024 (Pan-Caribbean). This is the seventh year in a row that HSM IP has been recommended by WTR 1000. HSM IP is Read more +
HSM IP Presents INTA Unreal Campaign to CIFEC Students
HSM IP was pleased to present the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) Unreal Campaign to over 25 students at the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC) on 8 December 2023. HSM IP’s Mrinali Menon (Senior IP Manager) and Shirly Ramirez (IP Read more +
HSM IP Welcomes Senior Intellectual Property Manager
Mrinali Menon has joined HSM IP in the Cayman Islands as their new Senior Intellectual Property (IP) Manager. Overseeing a team of 10 IP specialists, Mrinali has over eight years of global legal experience, having worked in the United States (New Read more +
IP Reform on the Horizon for Bermuda
Update: The Trade Marks Act 2023 and Trade Marks and Service Marks Regulations Amendment and Validation Act 2023 received royal assent on 17 October 2023.
As Intellectual Property (IP) specialists in the Caribbean, HSM IP is thrilled to hear that the Bermuda Government is making efforts to update its intellectual property laws.
Vance Campbell (Minister for Bermuda Tourism and the Cabinet Office) recently shared in December 2022 that this huge undertaking would involve collaboration among the Ministry for Tourism and the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs with the Department of Registry General and the Ministry of Economy and Labour through the Economic Development Department. A special IP Taskforce has already been assigned.
Their objective is to make legislation governing trade marks, patents, registered designs and copyrights more fully aligned with UK and global standards and best practices allowing Bermuda to better compete for business.
Reports indicate that they are tackling trade marks first. Bermuda’s trade mark laws were originally enacted nearly 50 years ago.
One of the areas this new legislation plans to address is for Bermuda’s trade mark registration and renewal periods to be amended to cover 10-year terms. Since current registration periods are only seven years, this will be a welcome change.
As matters stand today in Bermuda, it typically takes 12 to 18 months for the Registry to process a local application for registration.
The Bermuda Government intends to submit to the UK formal requests for extension of several treaties governing the protection of IP rights. Their project team is coordinating with the UK Intellectual Property Office and will be submitting copies of the draft legislation to the UK IPO for review and comment.
With regard to Bermuda’s patent legislation, work has already begun to modernise the law and it will follow a similar course to that of the trade marks legislation.
Bermuda’s copyright laws are the most recently enacted, with the Copyrights and Designs Act 2004, but updates are still needed to enhance the regime, including the ability to voluntarily register copyright ownership.
HSM IP is monitoring this news and looks forward to updating our materials when they happen.
Click here to read HSM IP’s Bermuda trade mark guide.