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>[01.Oct.08] Trademarks - USA Ratifies Singapore Treaty
Source: WIPO [Adapted]

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Mr. Francis Gurry, welcomed the ratification by the United States of America, on 01.Oct.2008, of the Singapore Treaty on Trademark Law, an international treaty that streamlines and modernizes certain trademark office procedures.

The Singapore Treaty, which was concluded under WIPO’s auspices in Mar.2006, capped international efforts to update the 1994 Trademark Law Treaty 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 Singapore 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 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.