What is GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade)?
© Copyright 1993 to the present, Oppedahl Patent Law Firm LLC. Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. Click for information on the purpose of this page. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade is a treaty to which the U.S. and many other countries are signatories. Its purpose is to free international trade and reduce tariffs. GATT has been revised several times; each revision is called a “round”. The latest, or “Uruguay” Round of GATT requires signatories to protect intellectual property and provide similar protection of intellectual property owned by nationals and foreigners. (Texts of the treaty, the implementing legislation) Adherence by the U.S. to GATT has brought about numerous changes to the U.S. Patent System that bring U.S. patent law into closer harmony with the patent systems of other countries. Some of the most important changes are discussed in articles in the Oppedahl Patent Law Firm LLC newsletter for May 1995: • COMING SOON: The GATT Amendments • Other GATT Changes Re
