Julian Sturdy, farmer, Conservative MP for York Outer and leave supporter, seems to be finally starting to realise what Brexit means. He asked a written parliamentary question (HERE) the other day. I assume it was on behalf of a constituent. Here it is:
"To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what plans the Government has to ensure the maintenance of rights of representation before the EU Intellectual Property Office for UK legal professionals when the UK leaves the EU".
The answer came from the ever helpful Chris Heaton-Harris an Under Secretary of State at DEXEU (and also a leave supporter). The answer appears to be the that Brexit may well mean: Brexit actually. In other words we will be OUT - but as far as IP is concerned Sturdy would also like us to be IN at the same time. He urged people to vote OUT, but wants us to continue to have "rights of representation" before the EU IP office. Heaton-Harris gently explained:
"We recognise that our new relationship with the EU means that we will no longer be members of the Single Market and will therefore have a different relationship with that market from the end of 2020.
"We want to facilitate continued cross-border provision of legal services between the UK and the EU. That is why we are proposing specific provisions for legal services, including permitting joint practice between UK and EU lawyers.
"We will work closely with the legal services sector as well as consumers to prepare for these new arrangements.
"In the meantime, we are working with the EU to ensure that the Withdrawal Agreement allows UK practitioners to complete pending proceedings if they are representing clients before the EU Intellectual Property Office at the end of the implementation period".
The last sentence says it all. Proceedings pending on Brexit will probably be allowed to finish, after that nothing unless the EU agree to it - and why should they?
