United States Ratifies Treaty Allowing the International Registration of Industrial Designs | Practical Law

United States Ratifies Treaty Allowing the International Registration of Industrial Designs | Practical Law

The United States has deposited its instrument of ratification to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs. When the US becomes a member of the Hague Union on May 13, 2015, US applicants can obtain industrial design protection in multiple jurisdictions by filing a single application either with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

United States Ratifies Treaty Allowing the International Registration of Industrial Designs

by Practical Law Intellectual Property & Technology
Published on 17 Feb 2015 • USA (National/Federal)
The United States has deposited its instrument of ratification to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs. When the US becomes a member of the Hague Union on May 13, 2015, US applicants can obtain industrial design protection in multiple jurisdictions by filing a single application either with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
On February 13, 2015, the USPTO issued a news release announcing that the US deposited its instrument of ratification to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs. The US will become a member of the Hague Union on May 13, 2015.
Currently, US applicants who seek international design protection must file applications in each jurisdiction where protection is sought. When the Hague Agreement becomes effective in the US, applicants can obtain international design protection by filing a single application with either:
  • The USPTO.
  • The World Intellectual Property Organization.
US design patents resulting from applications filed on or after May 13, 2015 will have a 15 year term. The USPTO also announced it will soon publish final rules governing the processing and examination of international design applications.