50. It is recommended Cabinet:
1. Note that the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks ("Singapore Treaty") was opened for signature on 28 March 2006 and will remain open for signature until March 2007;
2. Note that the Singapore Treaty is intended to make national trade mark registration systems more user-friendly and to reduce business compliance costs for both applicants for the registration of a trade mark and trade mark registrants. The Singapore Treaty endeavours to achieve these aims through the simplification and international harmonisation of national registration procedures;
3. Agree that New Zealand sign the Singapore Treaty before March 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland;
4. Agree that following signature, the text of the Singapore Treaty and its accompanying National Interest Analysis be presented to the House of Representatives for parliamentary treaty examination in accordance with Standing Orders 387-390;
5. Note that a Bill to amend the Trade Marks Act has been given a priority level 5 on the 2006 Legislative Programme (drafting instructions to the Parliamentary Counsel Office by the end of 2006);
6. Note that a review and amendment of the Trade Mark Regulations 2003 will also be required in due course to ratify the Singapore Treaty;
7. Agree that, subject to satisfactory completion of the Parliamentary treaty examination process, the Associate Minister of Commerce issue drafting instructions to the Parliamentary Counsel Office in respect of the amendments necessary to the Trade Marks Act 2002 required for ratification of, and to give effect to and implement the Singapore Treaty;
8. Agree to amendment of the Trade Marks Act 2002 to repeal the provisions relating to the voluntary registration of a person as a licensee of a trade mark and to cancel all existing licensee registrations;
9. Agree to amendment of the Trade Marks Act 2002 to repeal section 81 relating to requests that the Commissioner of Trade Marks certify whether or not a proposed assignment of a trade mark is likely to deceive or confuse;
10. Agree that, subject to satisfactory completion of the Parliamentary treaty examination process and implementation of the amendments to the Trade Marks Act and Regulations, New Zealand deposit an Instrument of Ratification to the Treaty with the World Intellectual Property Organisation;
11. Note that this Cabinet paper and attached RIS/BCCS are to be published on the Ministry of Economic Development website, subject to any necessary deletions justified in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982.
12. Note that the Associate Minister of Commerce indicates that consultation is not required with the government caucuses or other parties represented in Parliament.