Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether UK trade mark attorneys will maintain rights of representation at the EU Intellectual Property Office during the transition period under the terms of the European Commission's draft withdrawal agreement; and if he will make a statement.

The UK and EU negotiating teams have reached agreement on the terms of an implementation period that will start on 30 March 2019 and last until 31 December 2020. As part of this, UK lawyers will maintain their rights of audience before EU courts.

We are currently in discussions with the EU on the IP title of the Withdrawal Agreement, seeking to ensure that where intellectual property rights more generally are within the scope of separation discussions, the Withdrawal Agreement provides the greatest possible legal certainty for users, applicants, right holders and attorneys.