Article 6ter
Article 6ter of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property protects armorial bearings, flags and other State emblems of the States party to that convention, as well as official signs and hallmarks indicating control and warranty adopted by them, against unauthorized registration and use as trademarks. The scope of this provision was extended in 1958, so as to include armorial bearings, flags, other emblems, abbreviations and names of international intergovernmental organizations of which one or more States party to the Paris Convention are members.
Article 6ter does not generate a trademark right, or any other type of IP right, over the signs that are covered by that provision.
Information for States to avail themselves of Article 6ter.
Information for International IGOs wishing to avail themselves of Article 6ter.
Legal texts
- Article 6ter of the Paris Convention
- Guidelines for the Interpretation of Article 6ter(1)(b) and (3)(b)
- Decision of the Fortieth Session of the Paris Union Assembly concerning revised communication procedures under Article 6ter of the Paris Convention
- Article 3 of the Agreement between WIPO and WTO
Resources
Search the Article 6ter Express database for the State emblems, and names, abbreviations and other emblems of IGOs, which have been communicated for protection under Article 6ter.
Download of Article 6ter files
Article 6ter files (bibliographic data, images, circulars, and a change log) are available for download through
- FTP (/wipo/6ter/6ter.zip file: 6ter.zip)
Article 6ter updates
Publication of signs for which protection under Article 6ter is requested takes place twice a year via the Article 6ter Express database.