West Virginia Code Chapter 47. Regulation of Trade § 47-2-19. Time of taking effect--repeal of prior articles; intent of article

(a) This article is effective the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-six, but shall not affect any suit, proceeding or appeal then pending.

(b) The intent of this article is to provide a system of state trademark registration and protection substantially consistent with the federal system of trademark registration and protection under the “Trademark Act of 1946,”  1 as the same has been amended on the effective date of this article. To that end, the construction given the federal act should be examined as persuasive authority for interpreting and construing this article.