(Publ. 22 AUG 2018) On July 16, Canada joined the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs. By that, there are 55 contracting parties to the Geneva Act, including ARIPO and EUIPO. This make Canada the 69th member of the Hague Union. The relevant treaty will enter into force on November 5, 2018.

The Hague system offers centralized management of industrial designs through a single application and allows an applicant to register up to 100 patterns in 69 member states including the European Union. Thus, it offers a cost effective and smooth way to get protection in many markets. You get the same legal protection as if the designs were filed directly with each national office.