Tunisia Joins the International Trademark System

Tunisia's Minister of Industry Mehdi Jomâa and WIPO Director General Francis Gurry hailed on October 21st, 2013 the entry into force of the Madrid Protocol in Tunisia, while reviewing bilateral cooperation and discussing WIPO's future technical assistance to Tunisia. Under the WIPO-administered Madrid system, a trademark owner may protect a mark in up to 90 countries plus the European Union with its Community Trade Mark (CTM) by filing one application, in one language (English, French or Spanish), with one set of fees, in one currency (Swiss Francs).  Applicants wishing to use the Madrid system must apply for trademark protection in a relevant national or regional trademark office before seeking international protection.  An international registration under the Madrid system produces the same effects as an application for registration of the mark in each of the contracting parties designated by the applicant

China amends trademark law – entering into force on 1st May 2014

On 30 August, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, adopted amendments to Chinese Trademark Law. It is the third time that the country’s trademark legislation has been revised since the original Trademark Law of the Republic of China was introduced on 1 March 1983. The latest amendments, containing various revisions, will enter into force on 1 May 2014. Key changes relate to speeding up the application procedure; simplifying the opposition system; strengthening trademark rights; protecting well-known trademarks; regulating the activities of trademark agencies and other procedural revisions.