The Directorate General for Internal Market and Services Commission has published a tender notice for which calls for nominations for the preparation of a study on the overall functioning of the trademarks system in Europe

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market and Services plans to conclude a contract for a comprehensive study on the overall functioning of the trademark system in Europe. The study shall assess the current state of play of the Community trademark system and the potential for improvement and future development.

As the Community trademark system is closely linked to national trademark systems, the study shall also evaluate national systems and, in particular, the relation and interaction between the 2 systems, including the need for further harmonisation. The results shall, in particular, serve as basis for future review of the trademark system as a whole and enhanced cooperation between the Office for Harmonisation on the Internal Market (OHIM) and the national trademark offices of Member States.

The estimated maximum amount is 500 000 EUR for the total completion of the work, including all travel and subsistence expenses and the Commission's DG will receipt tenders or requests to participate until September 9th 2009.