Workshop on international trademark classification

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), kicked-off yesterday a workshop on the use of the Nice Classification and the Vienna Classification of trademarks. The four-day workshop saw the participation of 20 employees from the Intellectual Property Rights department at the MEC. The workshop aims to introduce and familiarise participants with international classifications and train employees of the Trademark department on the use of the Vienna Classification in a bid to facilitate the process of trademark assessments. During the workshop, Alison Zuger, an expert from WIPO, introduced participants to international classifications of trademarks. Zuger highlighted that the Nice Classification is an internationally approved classification in accordance with the Nice Agreement of goods and services, while the Vienna Classification is an international classification that was established under an agreement that concluded in 1973 at the Vienna Diplomatic Conference. The Vienna agreement establishes a classification of the figurative elements of trademarks and constitutes a hierarchical system that proceeds from the general to the particular, dividing all figurative elements into categories, divisions, and sections based on their shape. The workshop comes within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to support and develop the services provided to all concerned parties with respect to the protection of intellectual property rights, in addition to promoting awareness on intellectual property rights protection. Picture shows WIPO expert Alison Zuger delivering a lecture on international classifications of trademarks.