Trademark News: What you might have missed in January 2025

Stay informed with our comprehensive roundup of the past month's headlines, all neatly compiled for you in one convenient post. Catch up on the latest news reported by the Kluwer IP Reporter.

2026 version of Nice Classification reclassifies several common products

The 2026 version of the 13th edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification), which was released recently by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and came into force on 1 January 2026, has introduced several significant changes regarding common product categories.

Read the full story here

Argentina limits trademark exam to absolute grounds

The Argentine National Institute of Industrial Property has issued Resolution 583/2025, introducing changes to trademark examination and registration procedures with immediate effect and announcing changes for examination scope and further procedural changes with effect from 1 March 2026.

Read the full story here

China proposes amendments to strengthen trademark law

In December 2025, Chinese lawmakers submitted a draft amendment to the Trademark Law for first review before the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to address emerging challenges in trademark protection.

Read the full story here

Grenada joins Madrid Protocol

On 15 December 2025, the Government of Grenada acceded to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks by depositing its instrument of accession with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), becoming the 116th member of the Madrid System and increasing the system’s reach to 132 countries.

Read the full story here

Hong Kong IP Office launches new trademark tool

On 22 December 2025, the Intellectual Property Department of Hong Kong (Hong Kong IP Office) launched a new image search service called the Image Mark Finder (iMF).

Read the full story here

Hong Kong to launch image mark finder for trademark searches

The Intellectual Property Department of Hong Kong has recently announced that it will launch a new image-based trademark search service called Image Mark Finder (iMF) by the end of 2025.

Read the full story here

Madrid Protocol fees revised for Denmark

Pursuant to the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 17 December 2025 announced the revised amounts of individual fees applicable when Denmark is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation. The revised fees will enter into force with respect to Denmark on 1 January 2026 and 1 July 2026.

Read the full story here

New Zealand updates partial trademark replacement guidance

The New Zealand Intellectual Property Office has recently updated its guidance on replacing national trademarks with international registrations, following the March 2025 amendments to the Trade Marks (International Registration) Regulations 2012.

Read the full story here

New Zealand updates trademark classification guidelines

The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand updated its trademark practice guidelines with effect from 1 January 2026 to reflect changes introduced under the 2026 version of the 13th edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification), which was released recently by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Read the full story here

Nigeria set to reform IP law

The Federal Executive Council of Nigeria has recently approved a set of intellectual property (IP) policy reforms called the National Intellectual Property Policy and Strategy (NIPPS).

Read the full story here

Oman eases domain registration rules for foreign companies

On 11 December 2025, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Oman announced revised rules allowing foreign companies to register .om, .com.om, and .co.om domain names without providing trademark

Read the full story here

Slovenia updates GI rules for handicrafts and industrial products

On 1 December 2025, Slovenia brought into force amendments to its Industrial Property Act and related implementation law to align national legislation with European Union Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 on geographical indications (GIs) for handicrafts and industrial products.

Read the full story here

Sweden withdraws Rule 40(6) notification under Madrid Protocol

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization has recently announced that it has received a notification from the Government of Sweden withdrawing its declaration under Rule 40(6) of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks.

Read the full story here

Taiwan updates guidelines on counting virtual goods and retail services

The Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) has recently amended its Guidelines and Illustrative Examples for Counting Goods and Specific Retail Services to clarify the treatment of virtual goods, NFT (non-fungible token)-verified products and related retail and wholesale services.

Read the full story here

Trademark data from Paraguay now available on TMview

On 15 December 2025, Paraguay’s National Directorate of Intellectual Property (DINAPI) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) integrated DINAPI trademark data into TMview, an online search tool that allows users to access the databases of all participating trademark offices.

Read the full story here