TIGA, the trade association representing the UK video games industry, has today published a guide on how businesses in our industry can prepare for the potential scenario of a ‘no deal’ Brexit.
On 1 February 2017, the UK Parliament voted to allow the Prime Minister to trigger Article 50[1]; the EU subsequently accepted this application. By law, the UK must leave the EU on 29 March 2019. As the UK Parliament are yet to approve a Withdrawal Agreement, the default position of the UK is to leave the EU without a deal.
Leaving the EU without a deal creates a number of uncertainties for the UK video games industry. It is important that the UK games sector assesses the risks and opportunities that Brexit will bring, and prepare for all eventualities.
In the event of a ‘no deal’, the key areas of concern for the UK video games industry include:
- Access to EU talent;
- Access to EU funding programmes and tax reliefs;
- Barriers to trading with the EU; and,
- Implications on trade marks, copyright and intellectual property rights.
Although delivering the deal negotiated with the EU remains the Government’s top priority, it is important that businesses across all industries prepare for a potential outcome of a ‘no deal’ Brexit. To help prepare companies in the video games industry, TIGA has prepared a short guide which covers the key concerns we have actively raised with Government.
This guide signposts Government notices and policy papers, and shares information TIGA has received through our engagement with Government.
A downloadable copy of “How to prepare for a ‘no deal’ Brexit: TIGA’s guidance” is available here.
Please note this is not a comprehensive guide and the Government is constantly producing new guidance.
If you have any further queries regarding the information provided in this guidance, please contact us on info@tiga.org and we will do our best to answer your questions.
Updates
22 March 2019 – The Government has published guidance on changes to registered design, design right and international design and trade mark law if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The guidance can be found here.
[1] Division 135, Hansard¸1 February 2017, Col. 1136-1140, link