TRADE-MARK REGISTRATION IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Owners of trade-marks having business or prospective business
in foreign countries should ascertain the trade-mark laws in those
foreign countries so that they may take proper steps in time to
protect their rights.
In many foreign countries it is possible for a resident to obtain
registration of a trade-mark without having actually used it in trade.
Such registrations of marks owned in the United States have been
procured by unauthorized persons who employ the registrations to
stop the importation into the country of goods bearing the mark.
It is desirable, therefore, for American manufacturers to protect
their marks by registration in those foreign countries with which
they may do business before sending goods bearing the marks into
the foreign countries. Registration in the United States generally
is essential before registration in foreign countries, and after regis-
tration has been procured in this country the owner of the mark
may frequently procure registration in the foreign countries before
he has actually used the mark there. The duration of a certifi-
cate of registration in foreign countries varies according to the local
laws, but frequently runs for the same period as the United States
registration.
Circulars on Trade-Mark Protection in Europe and Latin America
may be obtained by addressing ‘Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce, Department of Commerce, Washington, D. C.,” and
that bureau will inform and advise with respect thereto.
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