The cost and process of filing international trademark protection will be easier for U.S. companies, following recent U.S. adoption of the Madrid Protocol.

But Victor Moreno, trademark attorney for Graydon, Head & Ritchey, said the new law won't take effect until Nov. 2, 2003.

At that time, the U.S. will join 56 other nations which have signed the international treaty.

U.S. businesses now have to file and maintain separate trademark applications and registrations in each foreign country of interest.

Under the protocol, businesses will have to file only one application in English securing protection in every nation that has signed the agreement.

U.S. businesses will file an international trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It then will certify the trademark and forward the applications to the World Intellectual Property Organization, which administers the protocol.

Mr. Moreno said one downside is that neither Canada nor Mexico has signed the protocol yet. That means companies seeking protection in those countries will have to file separate applications.

Mike Boyer