As a reminder, US applicants will be able to file an international design application with either the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) or the USPTO through the Hague Agreement concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (the Hague Agreement) on or after May 13, 2015.
The design application filed under the Hague agreement can contain one or more inventions and designate one or more of the 64 countries that are party to the Hague agreement. A US design patent resulting from an application filed under the agreement will have a 15-year patent term from the issue date.
USPTO website details: Hague Agreement Concerning International Registration of Industrial Designs.
See my related articles: USPTO - Hague Agreement - Single Design Patent Application Registers up to 100 Designs in Over 62 Territories and USPTO - US Residents Filing A Design Application under Hague Agreement?
Copyright © 2015 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.
Showing posts with label Hague Agreement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hague Agreement. Show all posts
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Sunday, February 15, 2015
USPTO - Hague Agreement - Single Design Patent Application Registers up to 100 Designs in Over 62 Territories
The USPTO announced US applicants will be able to file a single international design application either with WIPO in Geneva, Switzerland, or the USPTO to obtain protection in multiple countries on or about May 13, 2015.
Under the Hague system for the protection of industrial designs, US applicants will be able to register up to 100 designs in over 62 territories. Hopefully, this will greatly lower the cost of seeking foreign patent protection on designs.
Here is details from the USPTO announcement:
"U.S. innovators will soon have more options for pursuing multijurisdictional protection for new industrial designs
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced that the United States has deposited its instrument of ratification to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (Hague Agreement) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland (www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/hague-agreement-concerning-international-registration-industrial-designs). This marks the last step in the membership process for the United States to become a Member of the Hague Union. The treaty will go into effect for the United States on May 13, 2015.
Currently, U.S. applicants wishing to pursue protection for industrial designs in multiple jurisdictions must file individual applications in each of the respective jurisdictions where industrial design rights are desired. When the Hague Agreement enters into force for the United States, it will be possible for U.S. applicants to file a single international design application either with WIPO in Geneva, Switzerland, or the USPTO to obtain protection in multiple economies. The Hague system for the protection of industrial designs provides a practical solution for registering up to 100 designs in over 62 territories with the filing of one single international application.
“U.S. accession to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement will provide applicants with the opportunity for improved efficiencies and cost savings in protecting their innovative designs in the global economy,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO Michelle K. Lee. “We are extremely excited about joining the Hague Union and contributing to the continued expansion and development of the Hague system which facilitates protection of industrial designs in design registration and examination systems alike.”
The Hague system offers applicants increased filing efficiencies and potential cost savings in pursuing protection for their innovative industrial designs. As envisioned under the Geneva Act, the United States will continue to substantively examine design applications and to grant design rights in the form of U.S. design patents, whether the application is filed pursuant to the Hague Agreement or as a United States design patent application.
USPTO will soon publish the Final Rules governing USPTO processing and examination of international design applications filed pursuant to the Hague Agreement in the Federal Register. The Agreement, Title I of the Patent Law Treaties Implement Act of 2012 (the implementing legislation for the Hague Agreement in the United States), and the USPTO’s Final Rules are all expected to go into effect on May 13, 2015. U.S. design patents resulting from applications filed on or after May 13, 2015 will have a 15 year term.
The Hague system (www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/hague-agreement-concerning-international-registration-industrial-designs) is expected to experience significant growth over the next few years with recent and expected additions of several countries to the member list. In addition to United States membership taking effect on May 13, 2015, South Korea became a member effective July 1, 2014, and Japan is expected to become a member in the same time period as the United States. Canada, China, and Russia are also among the countries exploring membership in the near future.
For non-press inquiries please contact David Gerk, Patent Attorney, Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA) at 571-272-9300."
Copyright © 2015 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.
Under the Hague system for the protection of industrial designs, US applicants will be able to register up to 100 designs in over 62 territories. Hopefully, this will greatly lower the cost of seeking foreign patent protection on designs.
Here is details from the USPTO announcement:
"U.S. innovators will soon have more options for pursuing multijurisdictional protection for new industrial designs
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced that the United States has deposited its instrument of ratification to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (Hague Agreement) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland (www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/hague-agreement-concerning-international-registration-industrial-designs). This marks the last step in the membership process for the United States to become a Member of the Hague Union. The treaty will go into effect for the United States on May 13, 2015.
Currently, U.S. applicants wishing to pursue protection for industrial designs in multiple jurisdictions must file individual applications in each of the respective jurisdictions where industrial design rights are desired. When the Hague Agreement enters into force for the United States, it will be possible for U.S. applicants to file a single international design application either with WIPO in Geneva, Switzerland, or the USPTO to obtain protection in multiple economies. The Hague system for the protection of industrial designs provides a practical solution for registering up to 100 designs in over 62 territories with the filing of one single international application.
“U.S. accession to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement will provide applicants with the opportunity for improved efficiencies and cost savings in protecting their innovative designs in the global economy,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO Michelle K. Lee. “We are extremely excited about joining the Hague Union and contributing to the continued expansion and development of the Hague system which facilitates protection of industrial designs in design registration and examination systems alike.”
The Hague system offers applicants increased filing efficiencies and potential cost savings in pursuing protection for their innovative industrial designs. As envisioned under the Geneva Act, the United States will continue to substantively examine design applications and to grant design rights in the form of U.S. design patents, whether the application is filed pursuant to the Hague Agreement or as a United States design patent application.
USPTO will soon publish the Final Rules governing USPTO processing and examination of international design applications filed pursuant to the Hague Agreement in the Federal Register. The Agreement, Title I of the Patent Law Treaties Implement Act of 2012 (the implementing legislation for the Hague Agreement in the United States), and the USPTO’s Final Rules are all expected to go into effect on May 13, 2015. U.S. design patents resulting from applications filed on or after May 13, 2015 will have a 15 year term.
The Hague system (www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/hague-agreement-concerning-international-registration-industrial-designs) is expected to experience significant growth over the next few years with recent and expected additions of several countries to the member list. In addition to United States membership taking effect on May 13, 2015, South Korea became a member effective July 1, 2014, and Japan is expected to become a member in the same time period as the United States. Canada, China, and Russia are also among the countries exploring membership in the near future.
For non-press inquiries please contact David Gerk, Patent Attorney, Office of Policy and International Affairs (OPIA) at 571-272-9300."
Copyright © 2015 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
USPTO - US Residents Filing A Design Application under Hague Agreement?
Can US residents file an international application for a design patent?
When I first reviewed this question, I checked to see if the PCT allows for design patent applications. The PCT permits filing a single application in English that starts the process of seeking protection of the invention in many countries. Although not strictly a patent application, a PCT gives applicants an 18-month extension past the convention year to consider whether the cost of foreign filing is justified while keeping the benefit of the priority filing date.
However, the PCT does not permit filing a design application. Instead, an international design application must be filed under the Hague Agreement Concerning International Registration of Industrial Designs, 35 USC 381- 390, Title I of the Patent Law Treaty that President Obama signed into law on December 18, 2012.
However, a USPTO staff member informed he expects legislative processes to delay the ability for US residents to file Hague application until late 2014. First, the Senate must consent to a complete package of laws, since it's a Treaty. Although 35 USC 381-390 is law, the USPTO proposed rules are still open to public comments. The USPTO must review the comments and make any revisions to the proposed rules to produce the final rules. After this Senate consent requires Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommendation and 2/3 or more of Senators to vote in favor of the complete package.
Until that day, US residents may still file a Hague application in a country (i.e., Hague contracting state outside the US) if the applicant has a "real and effective industrial or commercial establishment" in the country. What's a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment is determined by that country's laws. It may not require applicant have its principal place of business in that country, but the more business activity in a country the more likely the Hague application will be valid. Thus, operation of a warehouse may not suffice, while a manufacturing factory might. A third party distributor or a subsidiary might not suffice, while applicant's sales office might. As was explained to me, "the establishment must be operated by the applicant, rather than merely with the applicant’s consent or approval" and not a "sham establishment." Finally, a Hague application on this basis would typically require engaging a foreign associate knowledgeable with the specific requirements of that country.
Copyright © 2014 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.
When I first reviewed this question, I checked to see if the PCT allows for design patent applications. The PCT permits filing a single application in English that starts the process of seeking protection of the invention in many countries. Although not strictly a patent application, a PCT gives applicants an 18-month extension past the convention year to consider whether the cost of foreign filing is justified while keeping the benefit of the priority filing date.
However, the PCT does not permit filing a design application. Instead, an international design application must be filed under the Hague Agreement Concerning International Registration of Industrial Designs, 35 USC 381- 390, Title I of the Patent Law Treaty that President Obama signed into law on December 18, 2012.
It may appear a US resident can file a Hague application in the USPTO today, because 35 USC 382 states any person who is a national of the United States, has a domicile, a habitual residence, or a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment, may file an international design application in the USPTO.
However, a USPTO staff member informed he expects legislative processes to delay the ability for US residents to file Hague application until late 2014. First, the Senate must consent to a complete package of laws, since it's a Treaty. Although 35 USC 381-390 is law, the USPTO proposed rules are still open to public comments. The USPTO must review the comments and make any revisions to the proposed rules to produce the final rules. After this Senate consent requires Senate Foreign Relations Committee recommendation and 2/3 or more of Senators to vote in favor of the complete package.
Until that day, US residents may still file a Hague application in a country (i.e., Hague contracting state outside the US) if the applicant has a "real and effective industrial or commercial establishment" in the country. What's a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment is determined by that country's laws. It may not require applicant have its principal place of business in that country, but the more business activity in a country the more likely the Hague application will be valid. Thus, operation of a warehouse may not suffice, while a manufacturing factory might. A third party distributor or a subsidiary might not suffice, while applicant's sales office might. As was explained to me, "the establishment must be operated by the applicant, rather than merely with the applicant’s consent or approval" and not a "sham establishment." Finally, a Hague application on this basis would typically require engaging a foreign associate knowledgeable with the specific requirements of that country.
Copyright © 2014 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)