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Date

Tags:

Rule
Trademarks / Patents
Staff
Walsh, Kathryn E.
Response/Comments

We agree

Question

From: Walsh, Kathryn E.
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2015 8:23AM
To: (Redacted), Gillis, Diana L.; Whitehead, Nora

Subject: RE: Trademarks/Patents

We agree with your take (Redacted).

 

From: (Redacted)
Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2015 12:48 PM
To: Walsh, Kathryn E
.; Gillis, Diana L.

Subject: Trademarks/Patent

Hi Kate and Diana:

I hope that all is well.

I have a question regarding foreign trademarks and foreign patents. My understanding is that these IP assets are considered to be assets located outside of the U.S. and that these types of foreign IP assets do not generate sales into the U.S. Foreign trademarks and patents are registered with the appropriate foreign government and are only enforceable in the country in which the IP is registered. U.S. sales are attributed to the comparable U.S. trademark or patent.

That said my question is whether foreign trademarks and/or patents held by a U.S. entity are treated as assets located outside of the U.S. The U.S. entity only holds the rights granted under a foreign trademark and/or patent and these rights are only valid and enforceable outside of the U.S. My view is that foreign trademarks and patents held by a U.S. entity are assets located outside of the U.S. and that such assets do not generate any sales into the U.S. Do you agree??

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Informal interpretations provide guidance from previous staff interpretations on the applicability of the HSR rules to specific fact situations. You should not rely on them as a substitute for reading the Act and the Rules themselves. These materials do not, and are not intended to, constitute legal advice.

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