Caribbean Stakeholders Narrow Focus on Intellectual Property

Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 19, 2013 (SKNIS) Officials from around the Caribbean Region are better able to conduct trademark examinations, classification and opposition procedures, having completed a four day workshop on Intellectual Property in St. Kitts.

The training course which ended today was organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in cooperation with the Intellectual Property Office in St. Kitts and Nevis, Ministry of Legal Affairs, and in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Head of Caribbean Unit, Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, Paul Regis explained how meaningful this course is.

“This course provides a welcome opportunity for WIPO, to further deepen and expand its relations with St. Kitts and Nevis,” he said. “It will also intensify our work together in the field of Intellectual Property.

According to Paul Regis, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is committed to the upholding and promoting of Intellectual Property and the hosting of this training course is a demonstration of such commitment.

Minister with responsibility of Legal Affairs and Intellectual Property, Honourable Patrice Nisbett said that the training of these officials is intended to assist in the transformation of the Intellectual Property Offices and the manner in which trademark application and other processes are managed therein.

He outlined how pleased the Government is with this process as it would benefit the Federation greatly.

“The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is cognisant of the importance of a vibrant and efficient Intellectual Property regime,” he said. As such “we have embarked on a number of initiatives, geared towards improving the administration of Intellectual Property in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

Minister Nisbett boasted that the Federation has seen a remarkable improvement in the trademark registration system. He said the volume of applications has consistently increased as they are now seeing 400 new applications yearly as oppose to the 200 in the past years.