The Chilean Chamber of Deputies (lower house) has just approved and sent to the Senate (upper house) the protocol concerning the Madrid Agreement, relative to the International Registration of Trademarks.

The text states that, due to its characteristics, its greater flexibility, and the number of members, it is proposed that Chile adheres to the Protocol of the Madrid Agreement and not to the Agreement, since it is the route followed by the countries that have joined the system in the recent twelve years.

The draft Agreement that approves in Chile the Protocol concerning the Madrid Agreement, relative to the international registration of trademarks, has entered into the first constitutional procedure for ratification.

The Madrid System is a convenient and cost-effective solution for registering and managing trademarks worldwide. Users may file a single application and pay one set of fees to apply for protection in up to 123 countries.

DINAPI Paraguay recently published that Paraguay adheres itself to the two WIPO-administered international treaties:

- The Nice Agreement establishes a classification of goods and services for the purposes of registering trademarks and service marks (the Nice Classification).

- The Locarno Agreement establishes a classification for industrial designs (the Locarno Classification).

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has just made available their Trade mark and Industrial Design Guidelines in the 23 languages of the EU.

The EUIPO’s current trade mark and design practice is reflected in a series of Guidelines for Examination that are intended to help both our users and our staff in charge of the various procedures.

To access the Trade mark guidelines, please refer to this link.

When it comes to the requirement of suficient trade mark use, the Bolivian Trademark Office interpreted that the products had to be necessarily  sold to be placed on the market.

The new Decision from the Andea Court of Justice harmonises the interpretation of what is sufficient trade mark use.

In accordance with the new interpretation of the Court, the goods only need to be offered to the public. This way commercial success and use are no longer seen as synonyms. 

This interpretation will be applicable in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.