On Wednesday, October 2, 2019 Samoa deposited its Instrument of Accession to the Hague Agreement.
The Agreement will enter into force in Samoa on Thursday, January 2, 2020.
This brings to 72 the number of contracting parties to the Hague Agreement.
As of January 2, 2020, companies and designers from Samoa can begin using the Hague System to protect their industrial designs. The applicant can pursue protection in many countries through a single international application and a single set of fees.
Likewise from January 2, 2020, those located outside of Samoa will be able to seek design protection in Samoa through the Hague System.
Samoa will join the Patent Cooperation Treaty on January 2, 2020 and joined the Madrid Protocol on March 4, 2019. Samoa will thus complete the trifecta of membership in all three international intellectual property filing platforms.
