Providing cross border services as a Trade Mark Agent

Competent Authority

The control of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks is based with The Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI).

Notification Process

Section 85 (4A, B and C) of the Trade Marks Act, 1996 provides that a person established in an EEA state and entitled under the law of that state to act as a trade mark agent may carry on the business of acting as a trade mark agent for others in connection with the registration of a trade mark or any procedure relating to a registered trade mark. The Controller of Intellectual Property is the Competent Authority for receipt of notifications by trade mark agents established in another EEA States who wish to provide services in Ireland.

The notification requirements are set out in the following statutory instruments:

Trade mark Amendment Rules - S.I. 621 2007

European Communities (Provision of Services Concerning Trade Marks and Industrial Designs) Regulations 2007 - S.I. 622 of 200

and are summarised as follows:

On or before the first occasion on which a person acts on behalf of another before the Controller in connection with the registration of a trade mark or any procedure relating to a registered trade mark, the person must notify the Controller and provide to the Controller evidence relating to –

(i) the person’s being established in an EEA state,
evidence of establishment in another member state can be: an entry in a relevant register (companies register, commercial register, listing in a directory of a professional body) specifying the location of the person’s registered office, central administration or principal place of business or other proof of its location in an EEA state,

(ii) the person’s being qualified under the law of that state to act as a trade mark agent in that state,
evidence of qualification can be a copy of a diploma or certificate, or other evidence of formal qualifications, awarded by the competent authority of the State concerned which indicates that the person is qualified to act as a trade mark agent in that state;

(iii) in the case of an individual, a national of an EEA state the nationality of the person
a copy of a passport, national identity card or other proof of nationality;

(iv) in the case of a company or firm formed in accordance with the law of an EEA state
a copy of a certificate of incorporation, an entry in a relevant register (companies register, commercial register, listing in a directory of a professional body) or other proof of the possession of the required legal personality in an EEA state

If any document furnished in compliance with the foregoing requirements is in a language other than English, then a certified translation into English must also be furnished.

Completing notification procedures online

The Intellectual Property Office of Ireland will accept notifications and accompanying evidentiary documents which are sent by means of post or e-mail. Communication by Email is preferred and will allow quicker completion of all formalities. Notifications and attachments in pdf format should be sent to the following Email address: regadmin@ipoi.gov.ie

Response time frame taken by Irish Patents Office

The Office undertakes to acknowledge enquiries from EEA based agents within 2 working days of receipt and the acknowledgement will include information on the procedures to be followed and the documentation to be submitted.

Within 3 working days of receipt of a notification accompanied by all the correct documentation, the agent will be sent confirmation that he or she may act before the Controller.

Within 3 working days of receipt of a notification accompanied by incomplete or incorrect documentation, the agent will be sent a request to furnish additional documentation. If an agent does not furnish the required material within a period of two months from the date of the request, the Controller will not recognise the agent’s entitlement to act on behalf of an Applicant/Holder and will pursue the prosecution of an application or other proceedings directly with the Applicant/Holder. The agent will be informed accordingly as soon as possible.

Within 3 working days of receipt of all the correct documentation in respect of a previously incomplete notification, the agent will be sent confirmation that he or she may act before the Controller.
If an agent has a complaint regarding the Office’s handling of the notification formalities, he or she may pursue the matter by writing directly to the Controller. Any complaint will be immediately acknowledged and investigated and a further reply will issue within 10 working days.

Relevant legislation applicable

The notification requirements for EU established Trade Mark Agents intending on providing services in Ireland, are set out in the following Irish legislation:

Contact details

Intellectual Property Office of Ireland,
Government Offices,
Hebron Road,
Kilkenny,
R95 H4XC
+353 56 772 0111
ipinfo@ipoi.gov.ie

_{The above is for general information purposes only. All further queries regarding this information should be directed to The Intellectual Property Office of Ireland.}