French Intellectual Property Code

A decision shall be taken on the trade mark application within a period of six months from the date of the application. This period is interrupted, where applicable, by the opposition application provided for in Article L. 712-4 until the decision ruling on the latter or by the notification provided for in Article R. 712-11 until the application is regularised.

Failing an express decision within the time limit mentioned in article R. 712-23-1, the application is deemed to be rejected.

The owner of the trademark shall be informed by the National Institute of Industrial Property of the expiry of the registration, no later than six months before such expiry. Failure to provide such information shall have no effect on the expiry of the registration. The registration may be renewed for a further period of ten years by declaration of the proprietor of the trade mark or any authorised person, drawn…

Failing an express decision within the time limit mentioned in Article R. 712-24-1, the renewal declaration is deemed to be rejected.

The conditions for submitting the application and the contents of the file shall be specified by decision of the Director General of the National Institute of Industrial Property, in particular as regards: 1° The application for registration provided for in Article R. 712-3; 2° The opposition provided for in Article R. 712-14 ; 3° The declaration of withdrawal provided for in Article R. 712-21 or renunciation provided for in Article…

Until the start of the technical preparations for registration or after registration of the trade mark, the proprietor or his agent may proceed with the division of his initial application or registration. The declaration of division drawn up for this purpose may only be made on expiry of the period provided for in Article L. 712-4. It may only relate to the list of goods and services designated in the…

The declaration of division mentioned in Article R. 712-27 is accompanied by proof of payment of the prescribed fee. The conditions of presentation and the content of the declaration of division are defined by decision of the Director General of the Institut national de la propriété industrielle. If the declaration does not satisfy these conditions, the procedure provided for in 1° of article R. 712-11.

The Director General of the Institut national de la propriété industrielle shall rule on the declaration of division mentioned in Article R. 712-27 within six months of filing. This period is interrupted, where applicable, by the notification provided for in 1° of article R. 712-11 until the declaration is regularised.

Failing an express decision within the period mentioned in article R. 712-28-1, the declaration of division is deemed to be rejected.