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Home | News | US officials highlight need for trademark protection in Cuba
US officials highlight need for trademark protection in Cuba
Thursday, 6 November 2003Measures designed to protect US trademarks in Cuba have drawn increased support from the US business community and Congress since introduction this summer.
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) announced this week that the US-Cuba Trademark Protection Act 2003 has more than doubled its sponsorship since introduction.
The bill is designed to prevent the practice of cyber-squatting, the exploitation of pre-owned trademarks, from proliferating in Cuba. NFTC president Bill Reinsch commented on the potential of this happening.
Currently there are more than 5,000 American trademarks registered in Cuba that are vulnerable to counterfeiting and infringement, thanks to a five-year-old special-interest law known as Section 211 that breaches U.S. treaty commitments to Cuba, he told Biz Ink.
The new bill establishes mechanisms to monitor the accuracy, reliability and stability of the Cuban government's trademark registration and renewal process. It also ensures the governments compliance with obligations to protect US trademarks in accordance with the Madrid Protocol.
Cuba and the US have honoured each others' trademarks for 75 years, commented US Congressman Charlie Rangel. Our legislation has gained support so quickly because it ensures that, as the US honours Cuban trademarks, Cuba will honour ours, he added.
The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) announced this week that the US-Cuba Trademark Protection Act 2003 has more than doubled its sponsorship since introduction.
The bill is designed to prevent the practice of cyber-squatting, the exploitation of pre-owned trademarks, from proliferating in Cuba. NFTC president Bill Reinsch commented on the potential of this happening.
Currently there are more than 5,000 American trademarks registered in Cuba that are vulnerable to counterfeiting and infringement, thanks to a five-year-old special-interest law known as Section 211 that breaches U.S. treaty commitments to Cuba, he told Biz Ink.
The new bill establishes mechanisms to monitor the accuracy, reliability and stability of the Cuban government's trademark registration and renewal process. It also ensures the governments compliance with obligations to protect US trademarks in accordance with the Madrid Protocol.
Cuba and the US have honoured each others' trademarks for 75 years, commented US Congressman Charlie Rangel. Our legislation has gained support so quickly because it ensures that, as the US honours Cuban trademarks, Cuba will honour ours, he added.