November 02, 2004
#04-30

Press Release, 04-30

Electronic Forms Available for Madrid Protocol Filings

PRESS RELEASE

USPTO another step closer to a fully electronic trademark process

The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announces the availability of electronic forms for submitting Madrid Protocol related documents. Now a U.S. trademark owner may file a single online application with the USPTO in English, based on an existing U.S. trademark application or registration, pay the fees in U.S. dollars, and potentially obtain registration for the mark in any or all of the 65 member countries of the Madrid Protocol.

The United States filed its documents of accession to the Madrid Protocol--a treaty that facilitates the protection of U.S. trademark rights throughout the world--on August 2, 2003, and began accepting applications filed under the Madrid Protocol on November 2, 2003. Without this treaty, the trademark owner seeking equivalent protection would have to file an individual application in each country, in the language and the currency of that country. Before the electronic application, trademark owners filed on paper and paid their Protocol related fees to the World Intellectual Property Organization in Swiss francs.

“Increasingly, U.S. trademark holders have interest in protecting their intellectual property globally,” noted Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Jon Dudas. “Electronic filing of Madrid Protocol documents is one more way for American businesses to speed the process of seeking brand protection in foreign markets.”

Today, 73% of all trademark applications currently are filed electronically. This level of electronic filing, coupled with Madrid filings, furthers the agency’s commitment to a fully electronic trademark operation.

Forms for submitting Madrid Protocol related documents are available at: http://www.uspto.gov/teas/index.html .

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