The Hague System for the Registration of International Design Welcomes Canada

The Hague Agreement, the international registration system for industrial designs, continues to grow as Canada will become its newest member on November 5, 2018. As we reported back in January, Russia also joined the Hague this year.

Canada joins a growing (and long) list of members. Currently under the Hague system designs can be registered through the Patent Offices in the following member countries and regions: the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Côte d’Ivoire, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, European Union (EU), Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mali, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and the United States.

After Canadian membership comes into force later this year, applicants can designate Canada in their international design applications (“IDAs”). As a reminder, the Hague system does not eliminate substantive examination or patentability requirements in any country. Therefore, applicants should ensure they are familiar with the rules and regulations of any country they designate in their IDA or else they run the risk of failing to obtain design rights in any country in which they fail to satisfy the local requirements.

The Hague Agreement, the international registration system for industrial designs, continues to grow as Canada will become its newest member on November 5, 2018. As we reported back in January, Russia also joined the Hague this year.

Canada joins a growing (and long) list of members. Currently under the Hague system designs can be registered through the Patent Offices in the following member countries and regions: the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Côte d’Ivoire, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, European Union (EU), Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mali, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Niger, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and the United States.

After Canadian membership comes into force later this year, applicants can designate Canada in their international design applications (“IDAs”). As a reminder, the Hague system does not eliminate substantive examination or patentability requirements in any country. Therefore, applicants should ensure they are familiar with the rules and regulations of any country they designate in their IDA or else they run the risk of failing to obtain design rights in any country in which they fail to satisfy the local requirements.