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Home | News | US adopts Madrid Protocol
US adopts Madrid Protocol
Thursday, 6 November 2003It has been confirmed that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has implemented the rules for the Madrid Protocol, completing the final steps towards participation in the international trademark treaty.
USPTO signed the agreement on November 2nd, allowing trademark owners in Madrid Protocol member countries to apply directly to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) for US trademark protection.
The signing will also make it easier and less expensive for US companies to apply for trademark protection in Europe, and experts are confident this will attract large numbers of applicants.
This new legislation offers some exciting new options for trademark owners, said CCH CORSEARCH senior product manager Jerry Ronaghan.
Some concerns have arisen that European copyrights are threatened, due to the fact that a US firm could register an already registered brand or trademark.
Few companies have understood the potential consequences of this, explained Stefan Hjelmqwist, marketing manager at Awapatent. The problem will lie in the sheer number of applications that flood in from the USA.
USPTO signed the agreement on November 2nd, allowing trademark owners in Madrid Protocol member countries to apply directly to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) for US trademark protection.
The signing will also make it easier and less expensive for US companies to apply for trademark protection in Europe, and experts are confident this will attract large numbers of applicants.
This new legislation offers some exciting new options for trademark owners, said CCH CORSEARCH senior product manager Jerry Ronaghan.
Some concerns have arisen that European copyrights are threatened, due to the fact that a US firm could register an already registered brand or trademark.
Few companies have understood the potential consequences of this, explained Stefan Hjelmqwist, marketing manager at Awapatent. The problem will lie in the sheer number of applications that flood in from the USA.