Jersey to separate trademark system from UK

Jewellers using the Madrid System for international trademark protection are no longer automatically covered in Jersey and must urgently review their application status, the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has said.

UK trademark applications will no longer automatically extend protection to the Channel Islands territory from 1 August 2026, and jewellery businesses seeking to protect their brands there will instead need to select the island as a separate designation.

The changes will introduce a fully independent national trademark system in Jersey, allowing businesses to apply directly for protection through the Jersey Registrar of Intellectual Property.

For jewellery brands that are operating across multiple markets, the move means reviewing existing intellectual property strategies to ensure brand names, logos and other trademarks remain protected in Jersey.

Under the new system, businesses filing new international applications, extending existing registrations or renewing international trademarks should review where the protection is required and ensure all important territories are included.

The association said existing international registrations that already benefit from UK protection will generally see no immediate impact. However, for new Madrid System filings from 1 August 2026 onwards, businesses requiring protection in Jersey must ensure it is specifically designated.

The change in regulation follows Jersey’s decision to become an independent designation under the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Madrid System, separating its trademark procedures from the UK.