By Stephen D. Wilson | May 6, 2023
Effective May 6, 2023, the Republic of Mauritius joined two intellectual property (IP) treaties that expand options for IP owners to register their trademarks and industrial designs internationally.
Madrid Union
On February 6, 2023, the Government of the Republic of Mauritius deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks [“Madrid System”] is an international trademark registration system established over a century ago that currently includes more than 125 countries, representing more than 80% of world trade. The Madrid System is governed by the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (1891) [“Madrid Agreement”] and the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement (1989) [“Madrid Protocol”]. The Madrid Union is made up of Contracting Parties to the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol. The Madrid System offers important advantages as well as potential tradeoffs and pitfalls that experienced trademark counsel can help brand owners navigate.
Recent members of the Madrid Union include the following countries:
| Country | Member | Accession Date | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Mauritius | 114th | February 6, 2023 | May 6, 2023 |
| Belize | 113th | November 24, 2023 | February 24, 2023 |
| Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) | 112th | April 6, 2022 | July 6, 2022 |
| Chile | 111th | April 4, 2022 | July 4, 2022 |
| Jamaica | 110th | December 27, 2021 | March 27, 2022 |
| United Arab Emirates (UAE) | 109th | September 28, 2021 | December 28, 2021 |
| Pakistan | 108th | February 24, 2021 | May 24, 2021 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 107th | October 12, 2020 | January 12, 2021 |
| Malaysia | 106th | September 27, 2019 | December 27, 2019 |
| Brazil | 105th | July 2, 2019 | October 2, 2019 |
| Canada | 104th | March 17, 2019 | June 17, 2019 |
| Samoa | 103rd | December 4, 2018 | March 4, 2019 |
Hague System for International Registration of Industrial Designs
On February 6, 2023, the Government of the Republic of Mauritius deposited its instrument of accession to the 1999 Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs [“Hague Agreement”]. The Hague Agreement is an international registration system [the “Hague System”] for protection of industrial designs that was first adopted in 1925. The Geneva Act entered into force with respect to the Republic of Mauritius on May 6, 2023.
Founded 140 years ago in 1883, Beggs & Lane is a full-service law firm that assists clients with U.S. and international intellectual property protection. The firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group has assisted clients worldwide with trademark applications covering over 140 countries.