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The Madrid Protocol
The Madrid Protocol has established a relatively new international trademark registry in Geneva, Switzerland, managed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Trademark applications can be filed in one office in one language for protection in many countries, rather than in the individual trademark offices and various languages of the desired countries. There are currently approximately 60 member countries that accept these applications.
The United States has agreed to join, and U.S. companies can actually file by about the first week in November 2003. (The House and Senate passed the accession to the Madrid Protocol in October 2002.) The next step is the promulgation of rules by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), which could occur at any time. At last, the United States will join 60 countries, including all of the major economies of the world except Canada, Mexico and Brazil in a streamlined international trademark registration. Once the United States joins, these and other countries are expected to eventually join.
Franchisors who operate on an international scale will find that the Madrid Protocol potentially provides them with greater protection of their valuable trademarks. The Protocol also streamlines the trademark application process and reduces fees. It is a proverbial 'win-win' that helps accelerate franchising globally to the benefit of franchisors, franchisees, and customers.
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York
In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?