New Strategies in International Trademark Protection?

The past twelve months have seen two important changes in international trademark law: First, when on May 1, 2004 ten new member states joined the European Union, the protection of all existing European Community trademarks was automatically extended to the territories of these new member states. Second, two important new members have joined the international trademark filing system (the Madrid System): the USA (in November 2003) and the European Community (in October 2004). This newsletter wants to point out briefly the latest developments and what impacts they have on trademark owners. On the one hand, the new regime makes international and regional trademark filings simpler, cheaper and more attractive. On the other hand, exactly these advantages make it necessary for trademark owners to look after their trademark portfolio more systematically and more effectively if they want to come up against the increased risk of infringements by foreign trademarks. Moreover, trademark owners are encouraged to peruse their own trademark filing strategy according to the new regime and to revise it accordingly.