As of 15 April 2016, a major change took place in the Polish trademark registration system concerning the procedure for granting trademark protective right as a result of the amendment of the Industrial Property Rights Act of 30 June 2000. Prior to the amendment, the "examination" system was used, whereby all obstacles to registration, the so-called relative and absolute conditions, were examined ex officio. Under the now binding contrarian system, only absolute conditions are examined. The system limits the role of the Patent Office in the registration process while increasing alertness and necessitating more activity on the part of entities entitled under previously granted rights. The change of the procedure has been simplify in order to shorten the application examination duration as well as adjust domestic legislation to EU law. After the closing of the relevant procedure conducted by an expert, the Patent Office may issue a decision on granting or refusing to grant trademark protection right. The article presents in detail the procedure for obtaining trademark protection right on the basis of the currently applicable amended provisions of the Industrial Property Rights Act, indicating the essence of the changes.

As of 15 April 2016, a major change took place in the Polish trademark registration system concerning the procedure for granting trademark protective right as a result of the amendment of the Industrial Property Rights Act of 30 June 2000. Prior to the amendment, the "examination" system was used, whereby all obstacles to registration, the so-called relative and absolute conditions, were examined ex officio. Under the now binding contrarian system, only absolute conditions are examined. The system limits the role of the Patent Office in the registration process while increasing alertness and necessitating more activity on the part of entities entitled under previously granted rights. The change of the procedure has been simplify in order to shorten the application examination duration as well as adjust domestic legislation to EU law. After the closing of the relevant procedure conducted by an expert, the Patent Office may issue a decision on granting or refusing to grant trademark protection right. The article presents in detail the procedure for obtaining trademark protection right on the basis of the currently applicable amended provisions of the Industrial Property Rights Act, indicating the essence of the changes.