New Parties to WIPO Administered Treaties in 2007

In the field of industrial property

Paris Convention - The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property was concluded in 1883 and is one of the pillars of the international intellectual property (IP) system. It applies to industrial property in the widest sense, including inventions, marks, industrial designs, utility models (a kind of "small patent" provided for by the laws of some countries), trade names (designations under which an industrial or commercial activity is carried on), geographical indications (indications of source and appellations of origin) and the repression of unfair competition.

* In 2007, Angola (1) adhered to the Paris Convention, bringing the total number of States to 172.

Patent Cooperation Treaty - The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) was concluded in 1970. The PCT makes it possible to seek patent protection for an invention simultaneously in each of a large number of countries by filing an "international" patent application. Such an application may be filed by anyone who is a national or resident of a Contracting State. The Treaty regulates the formal requirements with which any international application must comply.

* In 2007, Angola and the Dominican Republic (2) adhered to the PCT bringing the total number of States to 138.

Madrid Agreement and Madrid Protocol - The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (the Madrid System) is governed by two treaties: the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Agreement) and the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol).

The Madrid Agreement was concluded in 1891, and the Madrid Protocol was concluded in 1989 in order to introduce certain new features into the Madrid system. These address the difficulties that prevent certain countries from adhering to the Madrid Agreement by rendering the system more flexible and more compatible with the domestic legislation of these countries.

* In 2007, Azerbaijan, Oman and San Marino (3) adhered to the Madrid Protocol, bringing the total number of States/Intergovernmental Organizations to 74.

Trademark Law Treaty - The Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) was concluded in 1994 and aims to approximate and streamline national and regional trademark registration procedures through the simplification and harmonization of...