What the Madrid Protocol is

The Madrid Protocol is the international treaty that simplifies trademark registration worldwide. Signed in 1891 and expanded since, it lets brand owners file a single application covering multiple countries. Today about 130 member countries and regions use the Madrid System, and its core purpose is international trademark protection: one application covering many jurisdictions instead of country-by-country filings. Applications run through WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organization).

The Madrid Protocol trademark registration process

The Madrid Protocol lets brand owners register a trademark in multiple countries through a single application. The first step is to prepare the application file. That file is submitted through TÜRKPATENT (the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office), and it covers the mark, the goods and services, and the relevant class designations. Madrid Protocol applications must go through TÜRKPATENT; direct filings to WIPO are rejected. TÜRKPATENT reviews the application and can request additional documents. On approval, the mark is protected in the designated countries. The Madrid Protocol contributes substantially to effective international trademark protection and registration.

Documents required for a Madrid Protocol application

Turkish trademark registration certificate
Bank receipt showing payment of the application fee to WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organization)
Certificate of activity
Power of attorney
Sample of the mark (identical to the sample on the Turkish trademark certificate or application)

International trademark registration process

Application

Applications are filed with TÜRKPATENT through Sistem Patent as your attorney firm. Before filing, we identify the target countries and registration classes and build the application file.

Examination

TÜRKPATENT and WIPO both run a formal examination. If the application fails, it is returned. TÜRKPATENT reviews first, and if it clears, the application goes to WIPO.

Publication

Approved marks are published by both TÜRKPATENT and WIPO. During publication a third party can oppose the registration. A thorough prior search before filing keeps opposition risk low.

Registration

If no opposition is filed during the publication window, the mark registers. Any oppositions are reviewed and decided. TÜRKPATENT issues the registration certificate, and the designated countries issue their own as well.

Advantages of the Madrid Protocol

The Madrid Protocol offers real advantages to businesses filing international trademark registrations.

One application covers trademark registration in multiple countries. That improves cost efficiency compared with filing separately in each jurisdiction, since one process removes the expense and time of country-by-country filings.
Time savings. The Madrid System standardizes the filing process, removing the need for separate documentation in each country and cutting the time to registration.
International recognition for the mark. The mark’s global reach widens and reaches a larger customer base.

Madrid Protocol member countries

Countries covered under the Madrid Protocol include:

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
ALBANIA
ARMENIA
AUSTRIA
AUSTRALIA
AZERBAIJAN
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
BULGARIA
BAHRAIN
BONAIRE SAINT
EUSTATIUS AND SABA
BHUTAN
BENELUX
(BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG,
NETHERLANDS)
BOTSWANA
BELARUS
SWITZERLAND
CHINA
COLOMBIA
CUBA
CURACAO
CYPRUS
CZECH REPUBLIC
GERMANY
DENMARK
ESTONIA
EGYPT
EUROPEAN UNION
SPAIN
FINLAND
FRANCE
UNITED KINGDOM
GEORGIA
GHANA
GREECE
CROATIA
HUNGARY
IRELAND
ISRAEL
IRAN
ICELAND
ITALY
JAPAN
KENYA
KYRGYZSTAN
MEXICO
NORTH KOREA
SOUTH KOREA
KAZAKHSTAN
LIECHTENSTEIN
LIBERIA / LESOTHO
LITHUANIA
LATVIA
MOROCCO / MONACO
MOLDOVA
MONTENEGRO
MADAGASCAR
NORTH MACEDONIA
MONGOLIA
MOZAMBIQUE
NAMIBIA
NORWAY
NEW ZEALAND
OMAN
PHILIPPINES
POLAND
PORTUGAL
ROMANIA
SERBIA
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SUDAN
SWEDEN
SINGAPORE
SLOVENIA
SLOVAKIA
SIERRA LEONE
SAN MARINO
SAO TOME AND
PRINCIPE
SAINT MARTIN
SYRIA
ESWATINI
TAJIKISTAN
TURKMENISTAN
UKRAINE
UNITED STATES
UZBEKISTAN
VIETNAM
ZAMBIA

Sistem Patent files and manages international trademark registrations under the Madrid Protocol. For detailed information and advice, get in touch.

Madrid Protocol

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