The United States Executive Order, which took effect on June 21, 1994 and which prohibited all transactions that would have conferred a benefit upon a Haitian national, rendered it impossible to obtain protection for or maintain intellectual property rights in Haiti.

However, following the establishment of a new government in Haiti, another Executive Order went into effect on October 16, 1994, which revoked the earlier Executive Order, and it is now possible to protect intellectual property rights in Haiti.

At present, it is not known whether the new government will take any steps to permit the reinstatement of intellectual property rights which may have been affected adversely during the embargo. However, we shall continue to monitor the situation and keep our clients informed.