On 18 September 2015, Gambia became the 96
th member of the Madrid Protocol for the international registration of trade marks. The treaty will enter into force in Gambia on 18 December 2015, so users will only have to wait a short while until they can designate this territory when filing an international trade mark application. Likewise, any existing international trade mark holders wishing to now extend the scope of their registration to Gambia can file a request for ‘subsequent designation’ after this date. The 96 members of the Madrid Protocol now cover 112 countries worldwide, with Gambia being the 21
st African country/regional organisation to join. As this cost effective and administratively efficient system continues to grow, it offers ever increasing opportunities for brand owners of all sizes and industry sectors to develop and protect their trade marks in global markets. Indeed, as reported in our earlier
blog post, July 2015 saw the 1.25 millionth trademark being registered under WIPO’s Madrid System, being testament to its proven popularity. For any brand owners interested in securing multi-national trade mark protection, this system is a must when devising a filing program. Stobbs can assist with all aspects of strategic and cost effective advice relating to international filings, brand expansion plans and enforcement.
SHARE
Found this article interesting today? Send us your thoughts:
