Switzerland - Ratification of Singapore Treaty on Law of Trademarks

Switzerland has become the second country to ratify the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks. The treaty makes it easier for applicants in ratified countries to register their marks in foreign offices through use of the new developments in communication technologies.

Building on the Trademark Law Treaty of 1994, the new treaty applies to all types of marks registrable under the laws of the ratified country. It is also the first international instrument that explicitly recognises non-traditional marks, including: three-dimensional marks, colour, position and movement marks, non-traditional visible marks such as holograms and non-visible marks such as sound, taste and feel marks.

The treaty, adopted on 27 March 2006, which has also been ratified by Singapore, will come into force three months after ten states or intergovernmental organisations accent to or ratify the treaty.

Further Information

Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property