KARACHI, Oct 6: The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Francis Gurry has welcomed the ratification by the US of the Singapore treaty on the Law of Trademarks that streamlines and modernises certain trademark office procedures.

The delegation, which deposited the US instrument of ratification with the WIPO early this month, was led by Ambassador Warren Tichenor, Permanent US Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva.

“The US looks forward to the Singapore Treaty entering into force,” said Ambassador Tichenor.

“This ratification is a step in that direction. The treaty will benefit not only US companies but those of all signatories looking to protect their trademarks abroad, efficiently and cost-effectively,” he said.

The treaty, which was concluded under WIPO in March 2006, capped international efforts to update the 1994 Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) in order to keep pace with the evolution of trademark practices.

The treaty will enter into force as soon as 10 contracting parties (countries or qualifying inter-governmental organisations) have deposited instruments of ratification with the WIPO.

The US ratification brings the current number of parties accepting the treaty to eight.

—APP