"Try
again" business plea to EU on trademark protection
Paris, 6
July 1998 – ICC
has deplored the failure of the EU to reach agreement on linking the EU trade
mark system to the existing worldwide provisions of the 1989 Madrid protocol.
A statement by the ICC Commission
on Intellectual and Industrial Property expressed business disappointment at
the failure at the EU Council of Ministers in Cardiff last May to reach agreement
on establishing such a link. ICC said the provision was important for businesses
all over the world that use the EU trademark system.
"Failing to create
a smooth linkage between the European Community Trademark system and the Madrid
Protocol will in the long run alienate major sectors of the business community
from the European Community Trademark system," the statement said.
ICC said a flexible and
cost-effective mechanism al
lowing trademark owners to pass from one system to
the other would alleviate administrative and financial burdens on trademark
owners. It would be especially helpful to small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs).
The statement said language
problems should not be allowed to stand in the way of creating the link. "ICC
urges the parties involved to make a fresh start and to refocus on the original
objective of the exercise. This is to establish a system which would make it
cheaper and easier for trademark owners to protect their trademarks in the European
Union, when they also wish to protect their marks worldwide."
The world business organization
also noted that linking the two systems should lead to creation of a "highly
cost-effective" data bank of trademark registrations in all contracting
states. "This will enable conflict with existing trademarks to be avoided
when selecting new trademarks, which should be of great benefit to all, but
particularly to SMEs."
ICC
Statement on EC Adhesion to the Madrid Protocol
ICC
Commission on Intellectual and Industrial Property
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