Non-conventional marks: the EU reform of trade marks, Brexit, and the Internet of Things

This paper deals with the registrability of non-conventional marks after the EU reform of trade marks and some technological developments, including the Internet of Things (IoT). Even if olfactory marks (scents or smells) are the chosen prism, most considerations apply also to other non-conventional marks, such as holograms, movements, and tastes. In the UK, whereas in theory olfactory trade marks can be registered, there have not been successful applications since the EU Court of Justice's decision in Ralf Sieckmann v Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt. This paper suggests that scents may be more easily registered in the near future as a consequence of the EU reform of trade marks and of technological innovation. The impact of Brexit is critically assessed and the implementation of the EU reform is foreseen.