The US Authorizes Certain IP Transactions with Respect to Syria

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury has issued on February 22, 2012 the General License No. 15 authorizing certain transactions related to Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights.The following transactions that would otherwise be prohibited by Executive Order 13582 in connection with patent, trademark, copyright, or other Intellectual Property protection in the United States or Syria are authorized:

- Filing and prosecution of any application in order to obtain a patent, trademark, copyright, or other form of intellectual property protection.
- Receipt of patent, trademark, copyright, or other form of intellectual property protection.
- Renewal or maintenance of patent, trademark, copyright, or other form of intellectual property protection.
- Filing and prosecution of any opposition or infringement proceeding with respect to patent, trademark, copyright, or other form of intellectual property protection, or the entrance of a defense to any such proceeding.

According to this general license, the payment of fees due to the American Government or the Syrian Government is authorized, and the payment of the reasonable and customary fees and charges currently due to attorneys or representatives within the United States or Syria is also authorized.