Benelux

The Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) is the official body for trademarks and designs registration in the Benelux. BOIP can also record the existence of an idea on a given date in an i-DEPOT. Since 1971, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg have applied uniform rules for the protection of entrepreneurs' trademarks. As of 1975, as an economic union in the Benelux, they have also implemented the same legislation governing the protection of designs. In 2006, the separate rules governing trademarks, drawings and designs were replaced by a single convention, the Benelux Convention on Intellectual property (BCIP). Under the umbrella term of intellectual property, the statutory provisions governing trademarks, drawings and designs are laid down clearly and systematically in the convention. As of 2013, the BCIP also covers the i-DEPOT. Ever since it was formed, this unique cooperation between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, has developed into a contemporary organisation. BOIP is an expert around intellectual property in the Benelux area. We are in close contact with a large number of national and international organisations in the area of intellectual property rights. Efforts to improve our service offering are ongoing.