Legal advisers may now represent before Polish Patent Office in trademark cases
On November 30, 2015 the recent amendment of Polish Act of 2000 on Industrial Property Law has become effective.
It has resulted with substantial amendment od the scope of the former rules of representation by the patent attorneys within procedures concerning trademarks (e.g. application, examination, registration and maintenance). Compulsory requirement to be represented before the Polish Patent Office by the patent attorney has been extended to the attorneys/advocates (adwokat) and legal advisors (radca prawny). Also the statutory requirement for foreign entities to be represented before the Polish Patent Office by the patent attorney has been modified. Firstly, now it includes both attorneys/advocates and legal advisors. Secondly it shall not apply to the entities having their seat or habitual residence in the EU or in EFTA-State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (currently: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), or in Switzerland.