MARQUES has just heard from its friends in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),Hague Registry, Brands and Designs Sector, that WIPO is holding a Seminar on the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs in its very own, lovely Geneva headquarters in just a few weeks' time, on 9 April 2015.

This Seminar seeks to give practical guidance to users when designating the Hague's "new boys" -- the United States and Japan -- as well as the Republic of Korea (which joined Hague last July) in an international design application. In addition, users will be provided with the viewpoint of a private practitioner regarding a possible filing strategy.

A general information document with the catchy name WIPO/HS1/15/INF/1 and its sequel, the provisional programme (a.k.a. WIPO/HS1/15/INF/2 Prov.), are both available in English -- the language of the Seminar, on the WIPO website here. Other working documents will be made available on the same website in due course. 

If you'd like to sign up, please do register online before 2 April 2015, by clicking here. Any questions or problems? Just email Hague Registry Brands and Designs Sector head Yves Closet at hague.seminars@wipo.int. He will be delighted to help you.