The new NAFTA agreement has some very interesting consequences for patents and trademarks. Continue reading
Category Archives: Hague Agreement
WIPO’s new Global IP Platform
WIPO is developing a new Global IP Platform or GIPP. The goal of the GIPP is to provide a personalized home page for a user of WIPO’s web site, with easy-to-find links to the various database and e-commerce systems provided by WIPO. The user can set up an array of widgets or tiles providing access to the particular databases and systems that are of interest to the user. Continue reading
Canada joins Hague Agreement
On Monday, July 16, 2018 Canada deposited its Instrument of Accession to the Hague Agreement.
Normally what one would expect from this event is that the Agreement would enter into effect from October 16, 2018 (three months thereafter). But that is not what is going to happen. Continue reading
Starting June 13, should you check the “GB” box in your Hague application in addition to the “EM” box?
On June 13, 2018 it will commence being possible to check the “GB” box in addition to checking the “EM” box when you file a design application in the Hague system. Should you actually do so? Continue reading
United Kingdom joins Hague Agreement!
click to enlarge (photo credit: WIPO/Berrod)
When the UK chose the path of Brexit, I blogged this:
The UK does not belong to Hague. It will be particularly helpful if the UK were to join Hague right away.
That was in June of 2016. I had blogged here (October 2017) and here (December 2017) that this development was imminent. Now indeed the UK has joined the Hague Agreement (WIPO press release here).
Hague Agreement, DAS, and four-character access codes
Today WIPO announced that starting today ( February 28, 2018) the Hague Agreement e-filing interface and international application form DM/1 have a new item to allow the provision of an access code via DAS. What does this mean? How will it affect you? Is there anything bad that will happen to practitioners who don’t know about this or fail to make use of this new item?
Traps for the unwary in a Hague application that designates the US
If an applicant pursues US design protection using the Hague Agreement system, there are several mistakes to avoid, as I will discuss. Continue reading
An opportunity to save money on USPTO patent fees
It will be recalled (see my blog article of December 14, 2017) that most USPTO patent fees will increase, some substantially, on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. This presents an opportunity to save money. If there is some fee that you were considering paying on or after January 16, maybe you should pay it earlier, for example on Monday, January 15.
Most USPTO patent fees will increase January 16
Most USPTO patent fees will increase, some rather substantially, on January 16, 2018. You can see the Federal Register notice here. Here are some examples of fee increases that will take effect on that day: Continue reading
Russia joins Hague Agreement!
Mr. Alexandr Alimov (left) deposits the instrument of ratification with WIPO’s Director General Francis Gurry (Photo: WIPO)
Russia has joined the Hague Agreement.
On November 30, 2017, the Government of the Russian Federation deposited its instrument of ratification of the Hague Agreement with WIPO’s Director General Francis Gurry. The Hague Agreement will thus enter into force in the Russian Federation on February 28, 2018.