Madrid Protocol

The Madrid System, also known as the Madrid Protocol, is an international system for registering trademarks. It lets businesses register a trademark in many countries with just one application.

The system started with an agreement in 1891 and was updated with a protocol in 1989. Now, the 1989 Protocol is the main rule.

Businesses can file one international application instead of separate applications in each country. They pay one set of fees. The application can cover any country that is part of the Madrid System. Each country decides if it will protect the trademark. If a country agrees, the trademark is treated the same as if that country registered it itself.

The Madrid System is managed by the International Bureau of the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland. As of May 2025, the system has 115 members covering 131 countries. These members represent most of the world's trade. The system makes it easier for businesses to protect their brands in many nations.

History and development

The Madrid System for registering trademarks internationally started with two treaties. The first, the Madrid Agreement, was created in Madrid, Spain in 1891. It did not include many important countries like the United Kingdom and the United States. This made it hard for the system to work well.

In 1989, the Madrid Protocol was created to fix these problems. It made it easier for countries to join and made the system stronger. The Protocol began working on 1 April 1996. Over time, more countries joined, including the United States in 2003 and the European Union in 2004. By 2015, when Algeria joined, almost all major countries were part of the Madrid System.

Members

The Madrid System helps people register trademarks in many countries around the world. As of March 2026, it includes 116 members from 132 countries. The Madrid Protocol has been used since 1996 and has 100 members. It is more popular than the older Madrid Agreement, which has been used for over 110 years and has 55 members.

Advantages

The Madrid System helps you protect a brand in many countries quickly. You only need to fill out one form in one language and pay one set of fees. This system covers most of the world's trade. You can manage all these trademark protections online through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Disadvantages

The Madrid System has some disadvantages. If the original trademark application is changed or canceled within five years, the international registration can also be changed or canceled. For example, if "headgear" is removed from the original application, it will also be removed from the international registration.

To deal with these issues, there is a process called "transformation" where the international registration can be changed into separate applications in each country. This can be expensive but helps protect the registration date. Some countries, like China, have special rules to reduce these risks. Using the Madrid System can also become more expensive if local help is needed to solve problems.