This is intended for experienced IP practitioners. If you would like any more information on any of the following subjects please contact us.
Japan
Three Dimensional Trademark Registration in Japan to be enforced on and after April 1, 1997.
This three dimensional trademark registration system is a developing trademark system which has a history of only a few years in most countries including U.K. and Germany except for U.S. where this system already has a history of years of tens or more.
Therefore, applicants and patent attorneys should continue to cooperate and/or discuss with the Japanese Patent Office in the light of registered examples in U.S., U.K., Germany and other countries to establish a new practice as proposed in my report, once the 3-D trademark registration system has also started in Japan.
The boundary between 3-D trademark and design is unclear and that 3-D trademark rights will be semi-permanent so far as renewal is repeated as compared with the term of design rights of only 15 years.
The 3-D trademark registration system is enforced on and after April 1, 1997 and accordingly, applications which are filed on this first date have the earliest priority. Have you checked over whether or not you have been using any 3-D trademark and have you determined whether or not you should file an application for the 3-D trademark, in Japan.
Source and copyright 1997 Office Imamura.
Panama
With this new law Panama gets placed in the standards generally accepted in the professional practice on Industrial Property matter in most countries of the world.
Some of the most notorious advantages which are incorporated in the new law are the elimination of presenting the Principal or Home Register as a requisite, when filing a Patent or Trademark application. Also, Panama is a member of the Paris Convention as from October 19, 1996.
Utility models, industrial drawings and models registration are also incorporated with the new law. Regarding trademark matters, trademarks of guarantee, collective trademarks, source indications, origin denominations, trade names, and advertising signs and expressions are incorporated.
This law creates additional services that the Panamanian Patent and Trademark Office will offer to users, as well as new service rates; the governmental fees are also increased.
