A new Trade Marks Act has gone into effect in Belize where a registration in the United Kingdom has been a prerequisite to filing in that country. It is now no longer necessary to support an application in Belize with proof of a basic United Kingdom registration.

Previously, if a trademark owner did not own a British registration, it was possible to have a Cautionary Notice published in the Official Gazette and a local newspaper in Belize. The practice of publishing such Cautionary Notices has now ceased. Since marks covered by Cautionary Notices may now be the subject of original applications, we recommend that clients review their important marks in Belize and consider registering them there. The Registrar has indicated that he will give priority to applications for marks which have been the subject of Cautionary Notices published within the last 10 years; further clarification of this statement by the Registrar has been sought.