Colombia has become the 87th member of the international trademark system, it has been announced.
The country has deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks, and the treaty will come into force on August 29th 2012.
Colombia is just the second country in the Latin American region to join the Madrid trademark filing system, and the third Spanish-speaking nation.
It offers trademark owners a cost-effective, user-friendly and streamlined means of protecting and managing their trademark portfolio internationally.
Francis Gurry, director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, welcomed Colombia’s accession as boding well for the further expansion of the Madrid system.
“I am hopeful that other countries in the region will follow Colombia’s example,” he said.
“The greater the geographical coverage of the Madrid system, the greater the benefits it offers to brand owners the world over.”
Several countries – including India, Mexico and New Zealand – have completed domestic legislative processes to pave the way to accession, while the Philippines recently completed the process.
Angelino Garzón, vice-president of Colombia, said joining the international trademark system is “a positive development” for the nation.
“We believe our accession to the Madrid Protocol will indeed serve as a useful tool to promote our economic development, taking in consideration the multiple advantages it offers,” he added.
“This achievement has been possible thanks to the support of the Colombian private sector, which recognizes its benefits as an instrument to enhance the competitiveness of our enterprises, especially small and medium ones.”