Intellectual Property Law

United States lags behind Germany and France in International Trademark Applications

By Brian Wm. Higgin

     In 2007, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) saw almost 40,000 trademark applications, a 9.5% increase from 2006. This included an 18.8% increase in filings from U.S. applicants. Nevertheless, according to United Nations trademark agency statistics, the U.S. ranks third behind Germany and France in the filing of international trademark applications. Alain Lapter, a trademark attorney at Blank Rome, surmises that one reason the U.S. lags behind is that it remains the largest consumer economy in the world, and U.S. trademark holders may be content with spending their resources building their brands at home rather than seeking protection overseas. In contrast, although Germany is a considerable economy, German business owners may have a greater desire to seek protection in other countries within the European Union where geographic proximity and the free movement of goods and services under the First Pillar of the European Community may be incentives to filing international applications.

Full post as published by Maryland Intellectual Property Law Blog on March 13, 2008 (boomark / email).