Trademark deal revised to protect sounds and smells

SINGAPORE - Sounds and scents are among the new, unusual items included in a revised trademark treaty signed by 41 countries yesterday.

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) treaty will streamline filing procedures and create a framework for countries that want to protect marks such as radio jingles and scented products.

WIPO said the revised treaty would introduce electronic filing, making it cheaper and easier for companies to seek trademark protection.

"Brand owners will find it easier to file for protection," Ernesto Rubio, assistant director general of WIPO, said. He was confident more countries would eventually sign the revised treaty but did not expand on why more of its 183-member states did not sign.

The treaty was first signed in 1994 by 33 member countries.

Burhan Gafoor, president of the conference and Singapore's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said small and medium enterprises would benefit most.

"Everyone has an interest because every country, big and small, has issues with trademark protection," he said, adding that the new treaty would drastically reduce application costs.

Companies can apply through WIPO's treaty for international trademarks to protect an invention in several countries at once.

- REUTERS