The UK Government are seeking views on the UK’s future regime for the exhaustion of intellectual property rights, which will underpin the UK’s system of parallel trade.
“Exhaustion of IP rights” underpins the system of parallel trade. Parallel trade is the import and export of IP-protected goods (for example, anything from books, car parts to medicines) by secondary market actors. The movement of goods on the secondary market is usually on a wholesale/resale basis and forms an integral part of many supply chains. At present, parallel goods can move from the EEA into the UK but may not be permitted to move in the other direction. Now that the UK has left the EU, it is consulting on the future of the UK’s parallel trading system.
It is seeking evidence to understand what the most appropriate exhaustion of IP rights regime would be and how any change should be implemented. The UK government welcomes businesses, representative organisations, civil society organisations, legal practitioners, creators and consumers to contribute to this consultation.
The consultation closes at 11:45pm on 31 August 2021.
For further information please visit GOV.UK.