This also means that Jersey is now a separate designated member under WIPO’s Madrid System. Previously, protection of a trade mark in Jersey required that you either re-register an existing UK trade mark registration in Jersey, or, where an IR designated the UK, it automatically extended to Jersey.

What is changing?

The following important changes are stemming from this recent development:

• Designating the UK via WIPO will no longer cover Jersey
  • Before 1 August 2026, if the UK was designated via WIPO, the protection automatically extended to Jersey.
  • To protect your trade mark in Jersey via WIPO, you now need to select Jersey as a separate IR designation.
• Jersey will have its own Office of Origin
  • Applicants based in Jersey must file international applications directly through the Jersey Registrar of Intellectual Property, rather than via the UK IPO.
• The requirement for applicants to have an existing UK registration to file an application in Jersey will be removed
  • Applicants can file a national trade mark application in Jersey without a UK trade mark registration

What happens to existing international registrations?

If your international trade mark registration designates the UK and was recorded (has met the formal requirements and been accepted on the International Register) before August 1, 2026:

• Your registration is protected in the UK on August 1, 2026: WIPO will automatically record a Jersey designation for your registration. From that point, the Jersey and UK designations will operate independently of each other.
• The UK refusal period has not yet expired: WIPO will only record a Jersey designation once the UK issues a statement of grant of protection or a final decision granting total or partial protection.
• Your registration has been refused or invalidated in the UK: Jersey will not be automatically designated, and owners have the option of either applying directly for a national Jersey application or, within 3 months of the cancellation/invalidity date, the owner may apply for registration of the trade mark in Jersey (also known as a “transformation application”).

What this means for brand owners:

• Jersey now has an independent trade mark system, with national filings or standalone WIPO designations, no longer tied to the UK trade mark registrations/designations.
• If your mark has been granted protected status in the UK, a clone will be created from 1 August and will appear separately on the WIPO database. It will need to be renewed as a separate designation.
• If you have an international registration with a pending UK designation, once protected in the UK, a Jersey clone will be created automatically.
• Our clients with existing UK IR designations should update their records, adding the new Jersey designations and relevant renewal dates.

We are happy to assist our clients navigate the new trademark landscape in Jersey. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss further.