A good guinea pig?

In January we announced the publication of “The Madrid Protocol in Latin America: Is Colombia changing business strategies or acting as a guinea pig?” [EIPR]. Today’s news relates to this issue, since I read in the Brazilian Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial notice board that Brazil is really preparing for it.

On Monday 4th March the Inter- ministerial Group of Intellectual Property (GIPI) sent to the Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) the proposed accession to the Treaty. This indeed is showing the interest of Brazil to join the Madrid Protocol, which will facilitate the registration of national trade marks to other member countries – an international registration that eliminates the multiples process/applications.

According to the news published by INPI, if CAMEX agrees, then it will move to the Casa Civil da Presidência da República (Civil House of the Presidency), and later to the National Congress, which will take the final decision.

At present, there are 88 contracting parties. There were not members from Latin America until recently (apart from Cuba). The Madrid Protocol entered in force in Colombia in August 29, 2012 (the 87th member); since then Mexico (the 88th member) followed - entering into force only just: February 19, 2013…urmmm…will Brazil be the 89th?

Source INPI.