Madrid Protocol

The Madrid Protocol is an international trademark registration system administered by the International Bureau (IB) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).  It is a means for trademark owners to protect their marks in a variety of countries (or regions) by filing one trademark application with the IB.  When certain criteria are met, the IB issues an International Registration.  Each country designated for protection determines whether or not protection for a mark may be granted.  Therefore, the Madrid Protocol is a trademark “filing” treaty, not a trademark “granting” treaty.  An international application must be based on the trademark owner’s trademark application or registration from the Trademark Office of the trademark owner’s country (“basic application” or “basic registration”).

Once the IB grants an international registration, the Trademark Offices of the various countries in which the trademark owner seeks protection decides whether to grant a national trademark registration.  In the United States, a trademark application based on the international registration is called a “66a” application, pursuant to the relevant section of U.S. trademark law.

 

See also:

Trademark Application

Trademark Registration

 

 

Related links:

Useful Links – World Intellectual Property Office

Filed under the Intellectual Property Law category.

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