What Is Madrid International Trademark Registration?

Madrid international trademark registration is a filing route under the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol in which a single application is filed through the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), designating multiple member countries for protection. It is currently the lowest-cost channel for multi-country trademark layout.

The Basic Mechanism

The applicant must first have a trademark application or registration in the home country (the Office of origin) — the "basic application/basic registration." Taking a Chinese enterprise as an example:

1. First file a trademark application with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA);
2. Based on that application, file an international registration application with the WIPO International Bureau through CNIPA;
3. After formal examination, the International Bureau records and publishes the registration and transmits it to the designated countries;
4. Each designated country conducts substantive examination under its own law within 12 or 18 months; no refusal means protection is deemed granted in that country.

Coverage and Languages

The Madrid Union now has more than 130 members, covering major markets including the US, EU, UK, Japan and Korea. Applications may be filed in English, French or Spanish; Chinese enterprises typically use English.

Advantages and Limitations

Advantages: one application, one language, one set of fees; subsequent changes, renewals and assignments can all be handled centrally through the International Bureau, keeping management costs low.

Limitations:

• It depends on the home basis and is subject to "central attack" for five years after registration — if the basic application fails, the entire international registration fails;
• Each designated country examines independently, so refusals in individual countries remain possible;
• Some countries are not in the system (Canada has joined; some Middle Eastern countries have not) and require separate registration.

Who Should Use It

For companies planning to enter three or more Madrid member-country markets simultaneously, Madrid usually saves more than half the cost compared with engaging local agents country by country.

If you are unsure about the issues above, you can start with a US trademark registration at MyTMBee and act on the analysis provided by a registered agent.