Contracting parties to the Hague Agreement: What You Need to Know
The Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs is an international treaty that provides a streamlined process for protecting industrial designs in multiple countries. Industrial designs refer to the visual and ornamental aspects of a product, such as its shape, pattern, or color.
The Hague Agreement allows designers and companies to file a single international application to obtain protection for their industrial designs in multiple countries that are party to the agreement. This can save time and money compared to filing separate applications in each country.
As of 2021, there are 75 contracting parties to the Hague Agreement, including:
– European Union: The EU is a contracting party in its own right, and all of its member states are also party to the agreement.
– United States: The US joined the Hague Agreement in 2015, making it possible for US-based designers and companies to use the international system for protecting their industrial designs.
– Japan: Japan was one of the initial parties to the Hague Agreement when it was first established in 1960.
– South Korea: South Korea joined the Hague Agreement in 2014.
– China: China joined the Hague Agreement in 2020, making it the most recent party to the agreement.
Other contracting parties include Australia, Canada, India, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Turkey, and many others.
It is important to note that not all countries are party to the Hague Agreement. For example, Brazil, India, and South Africa are not currently contracting parties. This means that designers and companies who wish to protect their industrial designs in these countries will need to file separate applications in each country.
Additionally, even if a country is a party to the Hague Agreement, it may have its own specific requirements and procedures for industrial design protection. For example, some countries may require additional documentation or translations as part of the application process.
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