Patent Office - European National Trade Mark Offices

xxii Patents and Designs Journal No. 5940 26 March 2003
Notices - cont
Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning
the International Registration of Marks
Declaration by the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Notification has been received from WIPO of the deposit by the Government of the
Kingdom of the Netherlands, on 14 November 2002 and on 28 January 2003, of its
instrument of acceptance, in respect of the Netherlands Antilles, of the Protocol Relating
to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, adopted at
Madrid on 27 June 1989 (“Madrid Protocol (1989)”).
The Madrid Protocol (1989) will apply, with respect to the Netherlands Antilles, with effect
from 28 April 2003.
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and
Artistic Works
Accession by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
On 28 January 2003, the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
deposited its instrument of accession to the Berne Convention for the Protection of
Literary and Artistic Works of 9 September 1886, as revised at Paris on 24 July 1971, and
amended on 28 September 1979, with the declaration that the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea avails itself of the faculties provided for in Articles II and III of the
Appendix to the said Convention.
Furthermore, the said instrument of accession contains the declaration that, pursuant to
Article 33(2) of the said Convention, as so revised, the Government of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea does not consider itself bound by the provisions of paragraph
(1) of Article 33 of that Convention.
The Berne Convention as revised will enter into force, with respect to the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea, on 28 April 2003. On that date, the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea will also become a member of the International Union for the Protection
of Literary and Artistic Works (“Berne Union”), founded by the Berne Convention.
RETENTION OF ENVELOPES
In light of the infrequent recourse and the disproportionate cost, the current Office practice
of retaining all envelopes for 3 months after the date of filing will cease with effect from 31
March 2003. In future, where there is a dispute relating to filing dates accorded by the
Office, the onus will be on the customer to submit supporting evidence to substantiate
their claim.
This change in practice does not affect EPC and PCT applications or forms P54/77
submitted with translations in connection with European patents or European patent
applications, where we will continue to retain the envelopes.