Madridjärjestelmä

Madridjärjestelmä is an international registration system for trademarks. It is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The system allows trademark holders to protect their marks in multiple countries by filing a single international application. This simplifies the process of obtaining trademark protection in foreign markets.

To use the Madridjärjestelmä, an applicant must first have a basic trademark application or registration in their home country, which is known as a "basic mark". The international application is then filed through the trademark office of the applicant's home country, which forwards it to WIPO. WIPO then publishes the international registration and transmits it to the designated member countries.

Each designated country has a period, usually 12 months, to examine the trademark based on its national laws. If the trademark meets the requirements, protection is granted. If it is refused, the applicant must then deal with the refusal directly with that country's trademark office. The Madridjärjestelmä significantly reduces the costs and administrative burden compared to filing separate applications in each country. It is a valuable tool for businesses seeking to expand their global brand presence.