Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks

General Detail

General Information

  1. Type: Convention
  2. Date of signature:
  3. Place of signature: Madrid, Spain
  4. Depositary:
  5. Date of entry into force: 01/12/1995

Category

Intellectual property

Sub category

Trademarks

Groups

OPENESS TO MTRSWIPO

What is it about?

The Madrid Protocol, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization, is a part of the “Madrid System” which consists of the present Protocol and the 1891 Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks. Under the Madrid Protocol a trademark applicant may file an application for international trademark registration, which then takes effect in all State parties to the Protocol. The scope of the Madrid Protocol is similar to the scope of the Agreement, though varying in certain significant aspects. As the 1891 Agreement was not widely accepted, the Protocol addresses the criticised issues. Under the 1891 Agreement, the “home” registration of a mark is required before an international application may be made. A trademark applicant must register a mark in his or her own State before seeking registration abroad. Under the 1989 Protocol, however, an application for international registration can be submitted before an application for national registration is approved. According to the 1891 Agreement a national registration revocation also results in an international revocation. The 1989 Protocol differs. As five years after issuance an international registration becomes independent of the national registration, an international revocation only occurs if the national registration is cancelled within that time period. Even in the event of a revocation, the 1989 Protocol allows applicants to pursue national registrations in multiple jurisdictions using the original filing date of the international registration. The present Protocol raises the delay during which a State can refuse to recognize the deposit of a trademark from 12 to 18 months. The renewal period is reduced to 10 years from 20 years, and the application may now be submitted in English or French.

Why is it relevant?

An international trademark filing system offers great benefits to a member State. It makes it easier for national trademark owners to obtain mark protection abroad (one single application in English or French). Therefore, it increases their willingness to do business within member States. The latter also benefit from a reduced paperwork burden.

Additional Information

The ratification of the 1891 Agreement is not required for acceptance of the Protocol. It is, however, tied to the Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. Only member States to that Convention may ratify the Protocol. Inter-governmental Organizations possessing a regional office for the purposes of the registration of trademarks and of which at least one member State has ratified theConvention for Protection of Industrial Property may also become a Party to the Protocol.

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Country ratifications
CountryRatification date
Albania30/04/2003
Algeria31/07/2015
Antigua and Barbuda17/12/1999
Armenia19/07/2000
Australia11/04/2001
Austria13/01/1999
Azerbaijan15/01/2007
Bahrain15/09/2005
Belarus18/10/2001
Belgium22/12/1997
Bhutan04/05/2000
Bosnia and Herzegovina27/10/2008
Botswana05/09/2006
Bulgaria02/07/2001
Cambodia05/03/2015
China01/09/1995
Colombia29/05/2012
Croatia23/10/2003
Cuba26/09/1995
Cyprus04/08/2003
Czech Republic25/06/1996
Democratic People's Republic of Korea03/07/1996
Denmark10/11/1995
Egypt03/06/2009
Estonia18/08/1998
Finland29/12/1995
France07/08/1997
Gambia18/09/2015
Georgia20/05/1998
Germany20/12/1995
Ghana16/06/2008
Greece10/05/2000
Hungary03/07/1997
Iceland15/01/1997
India08/04/2013
Iran25/09/2003
Ireland19/07/2001
Israel31/05/2010
Italy17/01/2000
Japan14/12/1999
Kazakhstan08/09/2010
Kenya26/03/1998
Kyrgyzstan17/03/2004
Lao People's Democratic Republic07/12/2015
Latvia05/10/1999
Lesotho12/11/1998
Liberia11/09/2009
Liechtenstein17/12/1997
Lithuania15/08/1997
Luxembourg01/01/1998
Macedonia (The former Yugoslav Republic of)30/08/2002
Madagascar28/01/2008
Mexico19/11/2012
Moldova01/09/1997
Monaco27/06/1996
Mongolia16/03/2001
Montenegro03/06/2006
Morocco08/07/1999
Mozambique07/07/1998
Namibia31/03/2004
Netherlands28/11/1997
New Zealand10/09/2012
Norway29/12/1995
Oman16/07/2007
Philippines25/04/2012
Poland04/12/1996
Portugal20/12/1996
Republic of Korea10/01/2003
Romania28/04/1998
Russian Federation10/03/1997
Rwanda17/05/2013
San Marino12/06/2007
Sao Tome and Principe08/09/2008
Serbia17/11/1997
Sierra Leone28/09/1999
Singapore31/07/2000
Slovakia13/06/1997
Slovenia12/12/1997
Spain17/04/1991
Sudan16/11/2009
Swaziland14/09/1998
Sweden30/12/1994
Switzerland01/02/1997
Syrian Arab Republic05/05/2004
Tajikistan31/03/2011
Tunisia16/07/2013
Turkey01/10/1998
Turkmenistan28/06/1999
Ukraine29/09/2000
United Kingdom06/04/1995
United States of America02/08/2003
Uzbekistan27/09/2006
Viet Nam11/04/2006
Zambia15/08/2001
Zimbabwe11/12/2014
Treaties analysis
YearRatifications
19911
19941
199510
19965
199713
19989
19997
20006
20016
20021
20036
20043
20051
20064
20073
20084
20093
20102
20111
20124
20133
20141
20154
Total98
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