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USA Ratifies The Singapore Treaty,
by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington
Friday, October 03, 2008
The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Mr
Francis Gurry, has welcomed the ratification by the United States of America (USA)
on October 1, 2008 of the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, an international
treaty on trademarks that streamlines and modernizes certain trademark office
procedures.
The American delegation which deposited the USA instrument of ratification
with the WIPO Director General on October 1, 2008, was led by Ambassador Warren
Tichenor, Permanent Representative of the United States of America to the United
Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva.
“The US looks forward to the Singapore treaty entering into force,”
commented Ambassador Tichenor, adding:
“This ratification is a step in that direction. The treaty will benefit
not only US companies but those of all signatories looking to protect their
trademarks abroad, efficiently and cost-effectively.”
The Singapore treaty, which was concluded under WIPO’s auspices in March
2006, capped international efforts to update the 1994 Trademark Law treaty (TLT)
in order to keep pace with the evolution of trademark practice. The treaty will
enter into force as soon as 10 contracting parties (countries or qualifying
intergovernmental organizations) have deposited instruments of ratification
to the treaty with the WIPO Director General. The US ratification brings the
current number of states party to the treaty to eight.
The treaty deals mainly with procedural aspects of trademark registration and
licensing and introduces greater flexibilities and efficiencies into the delivery
of trademark registration services. By eliminating red tape, enabling trademark
authorities to take advantage of modern communications technologies, and further
simplifying and standardizing trademark office procedures, the treaty promises
to reduce transaction costs for brand owners.
Mr Gurry welcomed the ratification by the US as equally beneficial to US trademark
owners operating in international markets and to the many trademark owners in
other contracting states operating in the USA, remarking:
“Once the treaty enters into force, brand owners will benefit from reduced
transaction costs thanks to the efficiencies built into the treaty, which simplifies
and standardizes trademark office procedures.” Mr Gurry expressed confidence
that more countries would soon finalize the national processes that pave the
way to ratification.
Over 50 countries have already signed the treaty. By signing it, states declare
their support for the treaty and their intention to formally join it. The treaty
becomes binding for states once the instrument of ratification or accession
has been deposited with the Director General of WIPO.
Singapore, which hosted the final round of negotiations in 2006 leading to
the treaty’s adoption, was the first country to finalize the ratification
process in March 2007, followed by Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, Denmark,
Latvia and Kyrgyzstan.
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