Compared to copyrights and patents, the history of trademarks has been relatively neglected. An eminent and well-cited history of intellectual property helps make the point. The authors note that in developing modern ideas of intellectual and industrial property, « the primary source of inspiration was France for copyright and design law, and the United States for patents and trademarks » (Sherman & Bently, 1999). In fact, the French had robust trade mark law some 70 years before either the US or the UK. More significantly, the US and UK laws were written almost directly in response to conditions laid down by the French in bilateral commercial treaties.
Auteur: Paul Duguid