What is the Hague Agreement and how does it relate to U.S. design patents?
The Hague Agreement, officially known as the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs, is an international treaty that affects design patents. The MPEP mentions:
“The PLTIA among other things sets forth provisions implementing the 1999 Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (“Hague Agreement”).”
Key points about the Hague Agreement and U.S. design patents:
- It allows for international registration of industrial designs (design patents in the U.S.)
- The U.S. implemented provisions of the Hague Agreement through the PLTIA
- These provisions took effect on May 13, 2015
- As part of this implementation, the term of U.S. design patents changed from 14 to 15 years for applications filed on or after May 13, 2015
The Hague Agreement streamlines the process for obtaining design protection internationally, including in the United States.
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