Bulgaria has joined the Hague Design Convention with effect from December 11, 1996. The effect of this is that an international design application filed after that date may now extend to Bulgaria. It will be recalled that use of this convention is confined to parties that are nationals of member states and that the United States is not a member of the Hague Design Convention. However, advantage of the convention may be taken by subsidiaries of U.S. corporations resident in a country which is a member of the convention.