This act shall be in force and effect on July 1, 1996, but shall not affect any suit, proceeding or appeal then pending. All acts relating to marks and parts of any other acts inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed on the effective date of this act, provided that as to any application, suit, proceeding or appeal, and for that purpose only, pending at the time this act takes effect the repeal shall be deemed not to be effective until final determination of said pending application, suit, proceeding or appeal.
The intent of this act 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, as amended. To that end, the construction given the federal act should be examined as persuasive authority for interpreting and construing this act.