New Syrian Ministry responsible for Intellectual Property matters

With thanks to good friends SMAS news of the Ministry of Interior Trade and Consumer Protection. 

Decree No. 46 of 2012 establishes the Ministry of Interior Trade and Consumer Protection. The new Ministry is responsible for the management of the Industrial and Commercial Property Protection Directorate which deals with all Intellectual Property matters in Syria.

Syria to leave the Madrid Agreement

WIPO announced on 29 June 2012 that the Syrian Arab Republic had deposited its instrument of denunciation of the Madrid Agreement which will take effect on 29 June 2013. Rights holders will then no longer have the opportunity to designate Syria using the Madrid Agreement.

This part of the Empty Quarter has slightly mixed feelings about this announcement. The Agreement works, but not as well as the Protocol and so is not as good an Agreement as it could be. On the other hand any system which makes it easier to register marks around the world is, generally, to be welcomed. And denunciation is such a strong term!