In 2026, trademark authorities across major jurisdictions including the EU, UK, Singapore,
Australia and New Zealand have significantly strengthened enforcement against non-use
cancellations.
A trademark registration that lacks genuine commercial use for three consecutive years
now faces a much higher risk of being removed from the register.Post-Brexit regulations
mean the UK no longer recognizes use in the EU as valid for maintaining UK rights.
Australia and New Zealand now require clearer evidence such as local sales records,
advertising materials and online trading data.
Simply owning a registration without real business activity is no longer enough to protect brand
rights.I
nternational brand owners are advised to maintain continuous use, keep complete evidence,
and file required declarations on time to avoid unexpected cancellation of their global trademark
portfolios.
