The government of Algeria deposited with the Director General of WIPO its instrument of accession to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks on 31st July.
The Madrid Protocol will enter into force, with respect to Algeria, on 31st October this year.
The instrument of accession was accompanied by the declaration referred to in Article 5(2)(b) and (c) of the Madrid Protocol, whereby the time limit of one year to notify a provisional refusal of protection is replaced by 18 months, and a provisional refusal resulting from an opposition may be notified after the expiry of the 18 month time limit.
Accession to the Madrid Protocol by Algeria brings the number of Contracting Parties of the Madrid Protocol to 95.
In practical terms, from the end of October onwards, the Protocol will govern the international registration of marks. As a result, filing international applications and managing international registrations will be simplified.
A news item is available on the WIPO website, along with an Information Notice, which provides key accession information, including the declaration made by the Government of Algeria. The September issue of Madrid Highlights will cover the practical implications of Algeria’s accession for users.
Source: WIPO
Issue 056
Algeria’s accession brings the number of contracting parties to 95 and effectively means that from 31st October the Madrid Protocol alone will govern the international registration of trade marks.
