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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.
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models
Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.
Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge
As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.
Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator
How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.
Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising
The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.
Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality
This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.