Good news, despite some gaps

On August 1, 2017 the Trade Marks Law, 2016 was implemented in the Cayman Islands. The new law is essentially a customised version of the UK’s Trade Marks Act 1994 and has made it possible for local and international brand owners to file standalone trademark applications before the Cayman Islands Intellectual Property Office (CIIPO) for the first time, without the need to first secure a UK or EU trademark (EUTM) registration. In cases where no office actions are handed down and no third party oppositions are filed, trademarks can be registered in as little as three to six months.