Co-authored by Susan J Kohlmann and Carolina A. Fornos
Late last year, President Bush signed a law implementing the accession of the U.S. to the recently ratified Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol). This trademark treaty, adopted in Madrid, Spain, on June 27, 1989, provides for participation in the international registration system for trademarks. See 148 Cong. Rec. S10640-01 (daily ed. Oct. 17, 2002). On March 28, 2003, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published its proposed rules in the Federal Register. See Fed. Reg. Vol. 68, No. 60. These rules set forth the requirements for submitting international applications and will be designated in Part 7 of 37 C.F.R. as the rules of practice in filings pursuant to the Madrid Protocol. A hearing is scheduled for May 30, 2003 to consider comments. We expect that rules substantially in the form of those proposed will be implemented. Later this
