The Accession Heard Around the World: China and the Hague Agreement

June 17, 2022 | BY

Susan Mok

Timothy C. Bickham, Stephen Yang, Meihui (May) Xiao and Nikki C. Vlahos of Steptoe & Johnson LLP explore the significance and impact of China's recent accession to the Hague Agreement. Although there is some work to be done, this is likely to be a game-changer in the field of design rights protection

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Summary 

  • The Hague Agreement allows companies to make a single application for industrial design protection of multiple designs in multiple countries
  • China has recently acceded to the Hague Agreement
  • Chinese companies can easily register their designs around the world, and foreign companies in Hague member countries can obtain industrial design protection in China through a single application to the International Bureau of WIPO
  • Some inconsistencies between China's patent laws and the Hague Agreement still require reconciling
  • The accession signifies meaningful progress in the world of international intellectual property protection and marks a step forward toward China's technological and economic goals