INTA’s Practice Guides Are Now Even Better

INTA’s Practice Guides have been one of the most-valued and most-used member benefits since the Association published its first online Guide in 2003. Now, marking another milestone in INTA’s digital transformation, the Guides have taken on a new look—redesigned and upgraded with improved search functionality and other features.

The Practice Guides have a long history. Even before the Guides first went online nearly two decades ago, INTA published Country Guides as a hard copy in several editions. Since then, the Association has expanded its online library to seven Guides, with an eighth on the way.

The Guides continue to serve as time-saving resources that provide answers to basic questions on trademark and related areas of law. With contributions from hundreds of experts from the INTA community practicing in jurisdictions worldwide, the Guides stand out for their geographic spread and depth—and their immediacy.

“The Practice Guides are a fantastic resource for INTA members. I find the guides to be a helpful starting point for quickly checking a point of practice in a jurisdiction, before getting local advice on a matter,” said Iain Stewart (Kilburn & Strode, UK), a principal editor of the Trademark Opposition Guide.

With the new enhancements, the Guides now feature a bright, modern interface that is easier to read. Improved functionality provides a more flexible and intuitive search. And there are enhanced search capabilities, making it easier for users to find and compare results.

Further, two new features have been added. One is a “What’s covered?” widget for each of the topic section headings on the search page. Hovering over the widget reveals keywords that answer the question of “What’s covered?” The second feature allows users to create a chart of shortened answers—much like the Quick-Start Trademark Chart—for a select list of questions from that Guide. Currently, Country Guides and the Trademark Cancellation Guide have this feature; it will be rolled out in the other Guides over the course of the year.

Christian Ernst (De la Barra, Ernst & Siebel, Chile), a principal editor of Country Guides, noted, “We’re so happy with the newly redesigned Country Guides. We’ve received great comments from users all over the world, and we hope the changes we’ve made will make using this tool so much easier.”

Mr. Stewart added: “The recent update to the Guides has made them all the more usable, with key topics being easy to find and search. My trainees find the ability to create charts on different topics, including comparing different jurisdictions, to be a great learning tool,” said Mr. Stewart.

INTA introduced the enhanced Practice Guides to members during the 2021 Annual Meeting Virtual+ last November with three drop-in sessions, where demonstrated the new interface and additional features, and answered questions. These Guides would not be possible without INTA’s hardworking volunteer contributors and dedicated principal editors. Not only do these project teams participate in developing and updating the Guides, but they also use them!

Suman Naresh (International Strategy Group, US), a principal editor of the Trademark Cancellation Guide, recently used the Trademark Enforcement Guide to get information about cease and desist letters and the availability of pre-filing asset preservation injunctions in five jurisdictions. “I used single jurisdiction reports, which were easy to create and provided sufficient information to have informed conversations with associates in the countries concerned,” he said. “A chart function, such as the one that exists in the Country Guides, would have been extremely useful for comparison purposes, and I know it will be forthcoming soon!”

INTA invites its members to explore all the Practice Guides:

• Country Guides: Trademark Protection Worldwide
• Guide to GIs and Certification & Collective Marks: Practice and Procedure Worldwide
• Madrid System Guide: International Registration Practice and Procedure
• Trade Dress Guide: Protection and Enforcement Worldwide
• Trademark Cancellation Guide: Practice and Procedure Worldwide
• Trademark Enforcement Guide: Practice and Procedure Worldwide
• Trademark Opposition Guide: Practice and Procedure Worldwide

Look for the new Anticounterfeiting Guide coming in 2022!

INTA’s Practice Guides are an exclusive member benefit and are available to all INTA members, including everyone at a member organization. Those who don’t already have a username and password can get them from Member Operations to access the Guides. For a demonstration of the enhanced Guides, please contact Member Operations and include “Legal Resources” in the subject line.

Not a member? Join INTA today to access the Practice Guides and other exclusive member benefits.

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.

© 2022 International Trademark Association