Madridprotocol

The Madrid Protocol is part of the Madrid System for international trademark registration. It provides a centralized mechanism that allows a trademark owner to seek protection in multiple countries through a single international application, or through a request that designates several member states after an initial basic filing in the applicant’s home office. The system is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and operates alongside the Madrid Agreement as the core framework for international trademark protection. Since its introduction, the Protocol has been joined by a large number of countries, making it one of the most widely used routes for expanding trademark protection internationally.

How it works: An applicant with a basic trademark in their home office may file an international application through their office of origin. WIPO conducts a formal examination and then forwards the request to the designated contracting parties where protection is sought. Each designated country applies its own substantive examination and can refuse or grant protection in accordance with its laws. An international registration can designate multiple countries in a single request, and additional designations or changes can be recorded after filing. The system also supports changes in ownership, address updates, or renewals to be managed centrally through the home office and WIPO.

Protection and duration: An international registration yields a bundle of national rights in the designated countries, subject to each country’s examination and requirements. Protection generally lasts ten years from the international registration date and can be renewed for successive ten-year periods. Fees include a basic filing fee and designation fees for each country, with potential translation or procedural costs depending on the laws of the designated jurisdictions.

Limitations: The Madrid System does not guarantee universal protection; it depends on each designated country’s national procedures, which may include translations, different scope of protection, or refusals. Overall, it offers efficiency and centralized management for international trademark portfolios.