Locarno Agreement on Classification
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The Locarno Agreement on Classification is an international treaty that provides for the classification of goods and services for the purposes of registering trademarks. It was concluded in Locarno, Switzerland, in 1968, and is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
The agreement establishes a classification system known as the Locarno Classification, which is used to categorise industrial designs. Industrial designs refer to the aesthetic aspects of an article, including its shape, configuration, pattern, or ornamentation. The classification system helps in the systematic organisation and registration of industrial designs.
The Locarno Classification consists of a hierarchical system of classes and subclasses, which are further divided into subgroups. Each class represents a specific category of goods or services, and each subclass represents a narrower field within that category. The subgroups provide even more specific distinctions within each subclass.
The agreement provides a standardised framework for the international registration and publication of industrial designs. It enables applicants to identify the appropriate class and subclass for their design and facilitates the search and retrieval of information related to industrial designs in different countries. This promotes the exchange of knowledge and helps businesses protect their intellectual property rights globally.
The Locarno Agreement has been updated several times since its adoption, with revisions made to the classification system to accommodate changes in technology and industry. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the latest version of the Locarno Classification is the 13th edition, which came into effect on January 1, 2020.
It is worth noting that the Locarno Agreement focuses specifically on the classification of industrial designs and not trademarks in general. Trademarks, which are distinctive signs used to identify products or services of a particular source, are primarily governed by the Nice Agreement.
The agreement establishes a classification system known as the Locarno Classification, which is used to categorise industrial designs. Industrial designs refer to the aesthetic aspects of an article, including its shape, configuration, pattern, or ornamentation. The classification system helps in the systematic organisation and registration of industrial designs.
The Locarno Classification consists of a hierarchical system of classes and subclasses, which are further divided into subgroups. Each class represents a specific category of goods or services, and each subclass represents a narrower field within that category. The subgroups provide even more specific distinctions within each subclass.
The agreement provides a standardised framework for the international registration and publication of industrial designs. It enables applicants to identify the appropriate class and subclass for their design and facilitates the search and retrieval of information related to industrial designs in different countries. This promotes the exchange of knowledge and helps businesses protect their intellectual property rights globally.
The Locarno Agreement has been updated several times since its adoption, with revisions made to the classification system to accommodate changes in technology and industry. As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, the latest version of the Locarno Classification is the 13th edition, which came into effect on January 1, 2020.
It is worth noting that the Locarno Agreement focuses specifically on the classification of industrial designs and not trademarks in general. Trademarks, which are distinctive signs used to identify products or services of a particular source, are primarily governed by the Nice Agreement.
