Amidst economic activities that are becoming more globalized, and global competition becoming even fiercer, the strategic use of trademark rights by companies has been steadily growing in importance and becoming an effective means for them to establish and protect their highly valuable, internationally recognized brands. In order to support companies in expanding their business activities to abroad, it is essential to provide a sufficient infrastructure that not only enables companies to acquire stable trademark rights quickly but also enables them to appropriately protect their trademark rights as well in each country and region.
In the field of trademarks, a new cooperative framework called the TM5 has established, that is comprised of the Japan Patent Office (JPO), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), the State Administration for Industry & Commerce (SAIC) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).
Among the TM5, international cooperative efforts are being advanced in eight project areas in the trademark field.
Also, in 2008 cooperation among the Trademark Trilateral expanded to include the field of designs. Currently, four offices among the TM5 are holding experts meetings in the field of designs in parallel with meetings being held on trademarks.
Designs are not within the scope of SAIC's jurisdiction; therefore, the JPO, USPTO, OHIM, and KIPO are holding experts meetings in the field of designs.
The JPO continues to take stride in supporting the global business activities of companies by promoting international cooperation under the framework of the TM5.
(Source: JPO)
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