All trademark news that you might have missed last month in one convenient overview. Read up on the latest news reported by the Kluwer IP Reporter.
Australia implements Madrid Goods and Services list
With effect from 26 March 2024 the Intellectual Property Office of Australia (IP Australia) transitioned from the current Trade Marks Goods and Services list (AU picklist) to the Madrid Goods and Services (MGS) list, a database widely used by the World Intellectual Property Agency (WIPO) and various other international trademark offices.
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Clarification on trademark protection in Jersey
In March 2024 the Government of Jersey issued a clarification regarding trademark protection in the region, addressing confusion surrounding the issue.
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EUIPO releases CP13 Common Practice
On 22 March 2024 the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) published the CP13 Common Practice relating to “Trade mark applications made in bad faith” via the Common Communication.
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EUIPO implements CP14 Common Practice
On 19 April 2024, the European Union Intellectual Property Union (EUIPO) released the Common Practice CP14 (Trademarks contrary to public policy or to accepted principles of morality) to provide common understandings of morality, public policy and other related concepts with examples while outlining the criteria for assessing trademarks against these concepts
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Gambia joins Madrid e-Filing community
On 5 March 2024 The Gambia launched the Madrid e-Filing system for its national applicants who want to protect their marks abroad under the Madrid Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, thus becoming the 23rd intellectual property office to offer this facility.
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India holds special drive to clear pending trademark applications
On 5 March 2024 the Indian Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) announced a “Special drive,” which will be conducted from 8 April to 25 April 2024, seeking to dispose of pending trademark applications that have long been awaiting show cause hearings and where service addresses/e-mail addresses have not been updated.
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India IP Office announces extension of timelines
On 23 March 2024 the Indian Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (CGPDTM) issued a public notice announcing the extension of timelines for trademark-related e-services that were affected by the recent downtime due to maintenance activities.
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Individual fees under Madrid Protocol revised for Bahrain
Pursuant to the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 28 March 2024 notified the revised individual fees applicable when Bahrain is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of an international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.
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Individual fees under Madrid Protocol revised for Philippines
In accordance with the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 28 March 2024 notified the revised individual fees, in Swiss francs, payable when the Philippines is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.
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Iraq modifies trademark processing terms
With effect from 4 April 2024, the Directorate of Trademarks, Patents, and Industrial Designs of Iraq introduced changes to the payment terms and submission requirements for trademark applications
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Lebanon reduces trademark protection period
On 15 February 2024 Lebanon enacted its Budget Law No. 324, revising the structure of intellectual property rights and shortening the duration of trademark protection.
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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Zambia
Pursuant to the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the World Intellectual Property Organization has published the revised individual fees applicable when Zambia is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.
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New Zealand enacts changes to GI Act
On 25 March 2024 the European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill, a bill to implement the provisions in the New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement, received Royal assent, introducing significant amendments to the Geographical Indications (Wines and Spirits) Registration Act of 2006.
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New Zealand updates guidelines for using Māori elements in trademarks
The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has recently updated its trademarks practise guidelines to provide more information on how it reviews trademark applications containing Māori elements.
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New Zealand updates trademark practice guidelines
The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has recently revised its trade mark practice guidelines to address the inclusion of geographical indications (GIs) in trademark specifications.
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Poland implements Common Tools Integration tool
The Patent Office of the Republic of Poland has recently integrated the latest version of the Common Tools Integration (CTI) tool for trademarks, following its successful integration of the CTI tool for designs in 2022.
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Saudi Arabia adopts new trademark rejection policy
The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) has recently implemented a new method of handling rejected trademark applications.
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Tanzania starts using HDB in TMclass
On 11 March 2024 the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency of Tanzania (BRELA) joined TMclass, and started using and accepting the list of terms from the harmonised database of goods and services (HDB) in TMclass.
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Trinidad and Tobago’s trademark data now available on TMview
On 15 April 2024, the Trinidad and Tobago Intellectual Property Office (TTIPO) made its trademark data available via TMview, an online search tool that allows users to access the databases of all participating trademark offices.
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Uganda hikes trademark publication fee
The Ugandan Government Printer, which is responsible for publishing trademark applications in Uganda, has announced an increase in the trademark publication fee with immediate effect.
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USPTO publishes proposed trademark fee changes for 2025
Aiming to enhance operational efficiency and support ongoing initiatives outlined in its 2022–2026 Strategic Plan, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has recently announced proposed amendments to the trademark fees for fiscal year 2025.
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