EC Adhesion to the Madrid Protocol
Publication date : 22/06/1998
As the world business organization, ICC firmly believes that the protection of intellectual property stimulates international trade and investment, and encourages transfer of technology, which are both essential for economic growth.
ICC set out its strong support for a flexible and cost-effective mechanism linking the European Community Trademark system to the Madrid Protocol in a letter to Commissioner Mario Monti of 24 March 1998. ICC and the business community are thus very disappointed that the May discussion s in the Council of Ministers to establish such a link have failed.
This provision is important for businesses all over the world which use the EU trademark system. A flexible and cost-effective mechanism allowing trademark owners to pass from one system to the other would alleviate the administrative and financial burden on trademark owners, and especially on SMEs for which trademarks are sometimes the only intellectual property right of use. It would also be an important step towards the objective of a seamless international system of trademark protection which is becoming essential in the increasingly integrated global economy.
For further information, please contact
Daphne YONG-D'HERVÉ
Senior Policy Manager, Intellectual Property
Tel:
+33 (0)1 49 53 28 24
daphne.yongdherve@iccwbo.org