What is the Madrid Protocol and how does it relate to WIPO?

Many people want to grow their business internationally and think about getting an international trademark. The Madrid Protocol, which consists of two treaties, offers a way to register trademarks globally. It allows trademark owners to apply in one place and extend their application to other countries. This system makes managing trademarks easier by using one local office, one language, and one payment in one currency. The Madrid System takes your application from your home country and applies it to other member countries.

Each trademark request is treated as a separate application in each country. The trademark office in each country reviews the application based on its own rules and procedures. If there are any objections, a local lawyer with Power of Attorney must handle them, not your home country lawyer.

Since WIPO applications can be more costly for most users, we suggest registering in each country individually. However, if you plan to apply in many countries at once, using the Madrid System might be a better option for you.

The Madrid International Trademark System

This system makes trademark registration easier. One application in one language creates multiple applications in different languages through various trademark offices, covering nearly 80% of global trade. The Madrid System operates in 114 regions across 98 countries, including the European Union (EU) and the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI).