Jamaica Joins International Design And Trademark Systems

Published date26 January 2022
Subject MatterIntellectual Property, Trademark
Law FirmNovagraaf Group
AuthorFrouke Hekker

The international systems for trademark and design protection continue to expand, with Jamaica the latest country to file instruments of accession. The more countries that join the systems the better it is for companies that operate internationally, as Frouke Hekker explains.

Jamaica's accession to the international design system will follow that of Mexico in 2020 and Belarus in 2021, while its accession to the international trademark system follows that of countries such as Brazil, Canada and the United Arab Emirates. Jamaica will join the international design system as of 10 February 2022 and the international trademark system as of 27 March 2022.

The international system for design protection

The international system for design registration, known as the International Design system or the Hague Union, is regulated by the Hague Agreement and its supplementary protocols. The system is an important tool for brand owners and innovative companies, as it makes it possible for them to apply for design protection in one or more member states, by means of a single application to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva. To be eligible for protection under the international system, applicants must be a national of one of the member states, be resident or have a 'real and effective establishment of business' in that state (in other words: actually trade from the jurisdiction concerned).

When Jamaica's accession becomes effective on 10 February 2022, it will increase the number of member states, in which international design protection can be obtained via that single application, to 76 (including...

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