What is happening with Intellectual
Property in Trinidad
Well on the 25th of November,1997 Mr Jean -Paul
Hoebreck , Head of the International Trade Mark and
Industrial Designs Classification Section of the World
Intellectual Property Organization gave a very informative and
enlightening lecture to Trade Mark practitioners on the Vienna
Classification at the Intellectual Property Registry Port Of
Spain , Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean . Trinidad & Tobago is a
signatory to the Vienna Convention. This is the second time that
Jean-Paul has provided assistance to practitioners having previously
in May, 1997 examined the Nice classification.
On both trips he assisted the staff of the intellectual Property
Registry with various matters.
An official notice was issued by the
Ministry of Legal Affairs indicating that the following
pieces of legislation will be proclaimed by Presidential Order
on the 1st of December, 1997:
The Patents Act, 1996
The Industrial Designs Act, 1996
The Protection Against Unfair Competition , 1996
The Layout- Designs( Topographies) of Integrated Circuits
Act,1996
The Protection of New Plant Varieties Act , 1997.
The Geographical Indications Act , 1996.
Please observe that the Protection of New Plants
Varieties Act,1997 is included in the package of IP laws.You may
recall that a most modern Copyright Act, 1997 of Trinidad & Tobago
became effective on the 1st day of October, 1997. Earlier this year
there were significant amendments to the Trademark Act which is now in
conformity with international standards for the protection of Intellectual
property.