Towards implementing international IP treaties

01-04-2014

Victoria Carrington

After years of debate and extensive discussion, the Canadian government tabled five international IP treaties in the House of Commons—all on one day.

After years of debate and extensive discussion, the Canadian government tabled five international IP treaties in the House of Commons—all on one day. On January 28, 2014, parliament took the first step towards ratifying and subsequently implementing the following five treaties:

  • Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (the Madrid Protocol);
     
  • Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (the Singapore Treaty);
     
  • Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (the Nice Agreement);
     
  • Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (the Geneva Act); and
     
  • The Patent Law Treaty.

Canada has therefore taken the first step towards transforming its IP legal framework and harmonising its trademark, patent and industrial design laws with those of its major trading partners.

"the Patent Law Treaty harmonises formal (administrative) procedures for patent applications so as to make them more streamlined and user-friendly for patent applicants."


Singapore Treaty;Madrid Protocol; Patent law; designs laws; Canada Trademarks Act.

WIPR