Cabinet Approves Proposal to Align with Global Trademark System

Context: 

Recently Cabinet approves proposal for accession of India to:

  1. The Nice Agreement on the International classification of goods and services for the purposes of registration of marks.
  2. The Vienna Agreement for setting up an International classification of the figurative elements of marks.
  3. The Locarno Agreement for establishing an International classification for industrial designs.

Significance and benefits for India:

  • Accession to the Nice, Vienna and Locarno Agreements will help the Intellectual Property Office in India to harmonise the classification systems for examinational of trademark and design applications, in line with the classification systems followed globally.
  • It would give an opportunity to include Indian designs, figurative elements and goods in the international classification systems.
  • The accession is expected to instil confidence in foreign investors in relation to protection of IPs in India.
  • The accession would also facilitate in exercising rights in decision making processes regarding review and revision of the classifications under the agreement.

The following agreements are open to States party to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883). Instruments of ratification or accession must be deposited with the Director General of WIPO.

  1. About Nice Agreement:
  • The Nice Agreement, concluded at Nice in 1957, revised at Stockholm in 1967 and at Geneva in 1977, and amended in 1979, establishes a classification of goods and services for the purposes of registering trademarks and service marks (the Nice Classification).
  1. About The Vienna Agreement for setting up an International classification of the figurative elements of marks:
  • The Vienna Agreement, concluded in Vienna in 1973 and amended in 1985, establishes a classification (the Vienna Classification) for marks that consist of, or contain, figurative elements.
  1. About The Locarno Agreement for establishing an International classification for industrial designs:
  • The Locarno Agreement, concluded at Locarno in 1968 and amended in 1979, establishes a classification for industrial designs (the Locarno Classification).

Key facts- the three agreements:

  • Create a Union, which has an Assembly. Every State that is a member of the Union is a member of the Assembly.
  • Among the most important tasks of the Assembly is the adoption of the biennial program and budget of the Union.
  • Set up a Committee of Experts in which all members of the Union are represented. The main task of the Committee is the periodical revision of the Classification.

Source:PIB

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