Working Group on the Legal Development of the Hague System

December 3, 2021

Did you know? The Working Group on the Legal Development of the Hague System is tasked with making recommendations that ensure the continued development and streamlining of Hague System procedures.

How does it work?

The Working Group is made up of representatives from all Hague System contracting parties, typically from their respective intellectual property (IP) offices. Accredited observers – including user associations – may also attend the meetings of the Working Group.

These representatives meet once a year to discuss and deliberate on legal developments to the Hague System.

Once the Working Group reaches a conclusion, its recommendations are, where required by the legal framework, passed on to the Hague Union Assembly – made up of government officials from all Hague System contracting parties – for adoption.

The Hague Union Assembly meets at the same time as the WIPO Assemblies.

Next session

On the agenda…

Issues on the table for this 10^th session of the Working Group include:

• Amendment of the Hague System Common Regulations to enable publication – in the International Designs Bulletin – of the post-registration appointment, cancellation and/or change in the name or address of a representative;
  
  
• Amendment of the Hague System Administrative Instructions in order to:
  • update/modernize signature requirements;
  • ensure the provision of an email address for correspondence; and
  • clarify time limits for requesting the recording of a limitation or renunciation pre-publication.
• Study of cost implications and technical feasibility of expanding Hague System official language coverage – currently English, French and Spanish – to include Chinese and Russian; discussion of criteria to be used if introducing additional languages into the Hague System.

Access meeting documents