INTA Files Trademark Application in Ukraine

Demonstrating its ongoing humanitarian support to the people of war-torn Ukraine, INTA recently filed a trademark application for the word mark INTA with the Ukrainian Patent Office.

“We recognize that these are extremely difficult times for the people of Ukraine, and we want the IP [intellectual property] community and the country as a whole to know that they have our sincerest thoughts,” said INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo.

“By filing for a registration in Ukraine we hope to loudly send dual messages: INTA strongly supports our Ukrainian members, and, from a trademark perspective, it is viable to file and continue to do business in the country,” he said. “We encourage INTA members globally to keep Ukraine top of mind and include this jurisdiction in their IP filings and protection strategies.”

The Association filed the trademark application in Classes 9, 35, 41, and 45, covering INTA’s association services, educational activities, and advocacy outreach initiatives, including under the Unreal Campaign to educate young consumers about the dangers of counterfeits and the value of brands. The application was filed on June 29, 2022, and INTA’s local associates are confident it will move to registration swiftly.

This action is the latest in a series of humanitarian steps the Association has taken since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. INTA has been in regular contact with its Ukrainian members and others in the IP community, such as the National Association of Patent Attorneys of Ukraine, to offer assistance and inform them of several initiatives the Association has undertaken in recent months.

Among the initiatives for member organizations in Ukraine, INTA waived its annual membership fees and registration fees for INTA’s 2022 Annual Meeting Live+ and will be happy to extend this waiver to other educational programs and offerings this year.

Also linked to the Annual Meeting, the Association had launched a charitable fund, the Ukrainian Refugee Relief fund, to support the health and safety of Ukrainians. It distributed the voluntary contributions to two nonprofit organizations directly helping those in dire need: UNICEF-Ukraine, providing Ukraine’s children with access to safe water, nutrition, health care, education, and protection; and World Central Kitchen, serving thousands of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home as well as those remaining in the country.

INTA also has been facilitating notices of job openings worldwide for IP professionals who have been forced to leave Ukraine. The Association announced this initiative in early April, initially calling on European member organizations to collaborate with INTA in publicizing job opportunities for IP lawyers or paralegals, or any other positions that may be appropriate for Ukrainian refugees. The Association features the positions in a special section of its online Job Bank as well as directly alerts its Ukrainian members of each opening.

Members can utilize INTA’s Job Bank submission form or email to inform the Associationthat a job posting is for this campaign. There is no cost for members to submit job posts. Once INTA receives the job listing, it notifies Ukrainian members of the opening. The vetting and hiring process is up to the company and the applicant.

In addition, INTA has been posting the latest available information on issues of relevance to the IP community in Ukraine and Russia on its website over the past few months. Members of INTA’s Emerging Issues Committee—Embargoes, Sanctions, and Treaty Compliance Subcommittee prepare an update every two weeks based on the information they are able to obtain at the time of publication.

Noted Mr. Sanz de Acedo: “Our members continually demonstrate their strength as an IP community, and at times of crisis they solidify that spirit. Now is one of those times to continue to step up for the Ukrainian people as individuals and for their country.”

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this article, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest. 

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