IBL Asynchronous Activity by Hriday Pathak (1823580)

The Madrid Protocol is an international treaty designed to simplify the international trademark
registration process. Using this process, registrants are able to complete a single application, in
their home language, that can then be applied to over 90 member countries. It is important to
note, however, that this application will not grant global trademark protections. While the
Madrid Protocol simplifies the application process, it has nothing to do with approvals. Those
are still made on a country-by-country basis.

 In order to submit an international application through the Madrid Protocol, you must
first file a basic application with your home country’s trademark office. If you live
within the U.S., this would be the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO.
You do not need to wait until your application is approved by the USPTO. Once you file
your basic application, you are free to begin the process of international registration.
 The Madrid System is a convenient and cost-effective solution for registering and
managing trademarks worldwide. File a single application and pay one set of fees to
apply for protection in up to 124 countries. Modify, renew or expand your global
trademark portfolio through one centralized system.
 Using the Madrid Protocol, your international application will also be filed through your
country’s trademark office. They will then certify your application and forward it to the
World Intellectual Property Organization. WIPO will then review the application and
send it to the trademark offices in the countries you’ve indicated on the application.
 Madrid Protocol will not grant trademark in every country for which you’ve applied.
Each individual trademark office will examine your application and make a decision
based on their specific trademark legislation. You should be notified by each trademark
office within 12-18 months regarding approval or rejection. Once approved, you will
need to renew your trademark registration every 10 years.
 The most obvious advantage of using the Madrid Protocol is a simplified application
process. Completing one application in your home language is much easier than
submitting an application with each individual country, especially if you plan to register
in many countries at one time. The Madrid Protocol often saves registrants money as
well. Though you will still need to pay a fee to each country where your trademark is
ultimately registered, you will only pay one application fee. In a basic filing, with few
complications at the national level, this could greatly reduce the overall cost of your
international filing.
COVID 19 led to offer online services include:

 Madrid Monitor to track the real-time status of your international trademark registration
and related requests (set up e-Alerts to be notified by email automatically), as well to
retrieve the electronic version of all notifications. You can now identify registrations with
missing email addresses with our new email address status filter.
 Madrid Member Profiles Database to verify the status of IP Offices of Madrid Members
 Email Notifications to receive email copies (PDF) of notifications concerning your
international application or registration (e.g. provisional refusals, irregularity notices, and
more). Those who have not yet provided an email address to receive electronic
communications from WIPO may do so through Contact Madrid