Pilot programme on evidence in inter-partes trade mark proceedings

IPOS announced a pilot relating to evidence in inter partes trade mark proceedings, which introduces page limits to evidence to be filed in trade mark proceedings before the Registrar. There is now a limit to the number of pages for Statutory Declarations – parties’ evidence should fall within the following limits:

  • Evidence by Initiator: 300 pages 
  • Evidence by Respondent: 300 pages
  • Evidence-in-Reply by Initiator: 100 pages

If the evidence exceeds the page limit and if the HMD officer concludes that a significant portion of the evidence is irrelevant or unnecessary, then there could be cost implications.

More details are published by IPOS here.