The cabinet approved in principle on Monday the draft 'Trade Mark (Amendment) Act, 2014' for extending the timetable to 360 working days from the existing 120 days for smooth disposal of trade mark related cases.
"The cabinet approved the draft amendment to the law to dispose the trade mark related disputes within the proposed extended timeframe," cabinet secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told the media after the cabinet meeting at the cabinet division on the day.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat.
The cabinet secretary said the issue of trademark registration is a lengthy process which is done in seven stages. Besides, many documents are needed to send abroad through embassies for verification.
"The present timeframe is 'impractical' as it is not possible to resolve a case within the existing timeframe," he said.
He said the draft law will now go to the ministry of law, justice and parliamentary affairs for vetting.
The cabinet secretary said the ministry of industries (MoI) prepared the proposed draft amendment to the law after consultation with the stakeholders.
He said the MoI has put proposal to the cabinet for the extension of the existing timeframe.
He said the period, which was fixed for settling trademark dispute, in the trademark law enacted in 1940 and revised in 2009 is not enough.
The cabinet was also apprised of the third quarterly report on the implementation of its decisions as a total of 33 decisions out of 55 were implemented.
He said the implementation rate during the first three months was 51.35 per cent, while 55.93 per cent in the second quarter and 60.00 percent in the third quarter.
The cabinet was informed of the participation of a Bangladesh delegation in the 69th UN General Assembly meeting, headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from September 22-28.
It was also informed about Jordan visit by the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister from August 24 to 28, and participation of the Cultural Affairs Minister in the Edinburgh International Culture Summit, 2014 in the United Kingdom from August 10-12, and in the International Conference on Intercultural and Interfaith at Saint Petersburg, Russia from July 2-4.
Ministers and state ministers and secretaries concerned were present at the meeting.
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