We advised in our June 1994 Newsletter (N.S. 183) that the United States State Department had indicated that the United States would not be joining the Madrid Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks in view of concerns raised with respect to the extension of voting rights in the Madrid Union to intergovernmental organizations, most notably the European Union.

Our sources indicate that this dispute over voting rights has been resolved in view of an indication by the EU that it will ensure that the number of votes cast by the EU and its member states will not exceed the total number of EU member states.

Implementing legislation is currently pending in the United States Congress and it is anticipated that the United States will accede to the Protocol in 2001.