From 13 to 17 June 2016, within the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) was held the Working Group on the Legal Development of the Madrid System Concerning the International Registration of Marks.

The meeting of the Working Group was opened by Wang Binying, Deputy Director General of WIPO, which highlighted a number of achievements in the past year. Among them were mentioned: the accession of new members, increase in the number of applications for the international registration of marks.

At the same time, it was noted that, in 2016, 125 years have passed from the establishment of the Madrid System. In March this year, WIPO has started to implement a new electronic system for the administration of international trademarks – the MIRIS system.

WIPO Deputy Director General noted that a new system also involves some difficulties at the implementation stag. WIPO endeavors to implement as soon as possible. After implementation, the MIRIS system will provide new opportunities for both users and intellectual property offices.

During the meetings there were discussed some changes to the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks and the Protocol Relating to that Agreement and to the Administrative Instructions. The discussions were focused on the method of informing offices of the designated parties, about the change of the patent attorney, calculation of time limits in certain cases, replacement of national or regional registrations by the international registration.

The subject of further development of the Madrid System Concerning the International Registration of Marks was analyzed including in the context of celebrating the 125th anniversary from the establishment of that system. It is important to identify the directions of development of the system to make it more attractive to applicants.

The event was attended by Simion Levitchi, Head of Trademarks and Industrial Design Department, State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI).

Details can be found here: http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=39943.