WIPO members fail to agree design law treaty timetable

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

WIPO members fail to agree design law treaty timetable

WIPO’s hopes of arranging a diplomatic conference next year for a new deal on rules for industrial designs have been dashed after member states agreed to review the progress of work at the 2013 General Assemblies

Earlier this year WIPO’s secretariat from the Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications sought the views of owners and users of designs as part of a process it says will result in more streamlined, harmonised rules for filing applications for design rights around the world.

In May, Marcus Höpperger, director of the Trademark and Design Law Division at the IP organization, told Managing IP he hoped member states will conclude a design law treaty that does for designs what the Singapore Treaty did for trademarks and the Patent Law Treaty did for patents: simplify application procedures and harmonize registration formalities.

It proposes to standardise the rules national offices impose on the way that applicants must represent their design; filing date requirements; the length of the universal grace period that they offer; multiple design applications and the division of applications – among others.

But some member states want WIPO staff and the Organization’s chief economist to study how the draft articles and draft Rules on Industrial Design Law and Practice will affect developing countries.

The Committee agreed to ask the secretariat to carry out an analytical study.

WIPO says that at last week’s General Assembly in Geneva, member states emphasised the need to provide technical assistance to developing and least developed countries to implement any changes to design laws as a result of a treaty. Member states urged the Standing Committee on Trademarks to expedite its work.

The 2013 General Assembly will consider the progress made during the coming year and decide whether to convene a diplomatic conference to adopt a design law treaty.



more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

A $110 million US verdict against Apple and an appellate order staying a $39 million trademark infringement finding against Amazon were also among the top talking points
Attorneys are watching how AI affects trademark registrations and whether a SCOTUS ruling from last year will have broader free speech implications
Patent lawyers explain why they will be keeping an eye on the implications of a pharma case and on changes at the USPTO in the second half of 2025
The insensitive reaction to a UK politician crying on TV proves we have a long way to go before we can say we are tackling workplace wellbeing
Adrian Percer says he was impressed by the firm’s work on billion-dollar cases as well as its culture
In our latest interview with women IP leaders, Catherine Bonner at Murgitroyd discusses technology, training, and teaching
Developments included an update in the VAR dispute between Ballinno and UEFA, the latest CMS updates, and a swathe of market moves
The LMG Life Sciences Americas Awards is thrilled to present the 2025 shortlist
A new order has brought the total security awarded to a Canadian tech company to $45 million, the highest-ever by an Indian court in an IP case
Andrew Blattman reflects on how IP practices have changed and shares his hopes for increased AI use and better performance on the stock market
Gift this article