More international trade mark harmonisation 

Apparently, at the recent INTA trade mark conference in Sydney, the President of OHIM offered to host a roundtable between the 10 biggest trade mark organisations and the 10 biggest international filing companies in "a major effort to cut the red tape facing businesses attempting to protect their intellectual properties worldwide."

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OHIM carries a report in its latest online newsletter. 

I wonder what WIPO's Standing Committee on Trademarks is doing?

Meanwhile, it also seems that the European Commission is holding an inquiry into the trade mark system in Europe (as opposed to the EU?).  It woud seem that the Commission thinks the fees are too high and need to be brought back into balance.

Full OHIm newsletter here.