Trademark Law Treaties

Introduction:

TLT is a Treaty that came into existence with the singular aim of harmonizing and easing procedural and administrative aspects concerning International Protection and Registration of Trademarks at several jurisdictions. Participating signatory member countries to TLT benefit from uniformity and simplification in paperwork, reducing challenges such as language barriers.

TLT was adopted on October 27, 1994, and came into force on August 1, 1996.

Main Aspects of TLT:

• Curbs excessive administrative and procedural intricacies in national offices of signatory countries.
• Reduces complexities and increases predictability in trademark registrations.
• Eliminates notarization, authentication, legalization, and certification of signatures, except for surrendering trademarks.
• Initial registration and renewal standardized to 10 years.
• Reduces submission of multiple legal documents like Powers of Attorney.
• Service marks equated with trademarks.
• Mandatory compliance with the Paris Convention.
• A single document suffices to record the trail of title across multiple applications.
• Allows filing of single applications covering multiple classes, which can be divided during opposition proceedings.
• Trademark assignments need not include goodwill.

Conclusion:

While many countries have adopted TLT and benefit from streamlined trademark registration, debates and discussions continue globally. Refer to the list of signatory countries to TLT for more details.

Our Attorney will assist you in trademark registrations and renewals in these participating signatory countries.