by Jason Salas

Guam - A commission overseeing the establishment and use of local trademarks has been outlined. The Guam Trademark Commission, as Speaker Judi Won Pat has named it, details the need for local policy governing intellectual property and creating a Guam Cultural Trademark Program.

Currently, local businesses or individuals who wish to protect their intellectual property rights, trademarks and copyrights under US Trademark statute must file with the U.S. Federal Trademark and Patent Office.

She said she did this to update existing statutes that provide only for registration of products and labels, but not necessarily their protection, as copyrights need to be filed with U.S. Federal Trademark and Patent Office.

Bill 156, which you can read on GuamLegislature.com, would have 11 members.