The Madrid System is a centralised international mechanism for trademark registration and rights management in more than 130 countries through one application, one language and a unified fee framework.
The application is filed through the applicant’s national or regional office of origin and administered by the International Bureau of WIPO, allowing coordinated management of international trademark rights.
This route is commonly used where trademark protection is required across several markets and a unified administrative approach is preferable.
The system is governed by the core international instruments listed below:
The Madrid System is typically used where trademark protection is needed in multiple countries and centralised administration provides practical and economic advantages.
One application can be used to seek protection in several countries at once, with one renewal date for the international registration.
The system reduces the need for separate national filings and local trademark agents at the initial stage.
Changes, renewals and later territorial extensions can be managed through one international registration framework.
Additional countries may be designated later, which is useful where protection is expanded gradually.
The international application is filed in one language through the office of origin before being transmitted to WIPO.
The route is useful where trademark protection is needed in several markets and coordinated administration matters.
To use the Madrid System, the applicant must satisfy the core conditions linked to a Madrid member country and a basic national mark.
Important: The international application is filed through the national or regional office of origin and not directly with WIPO at the first step.
The international application requires a defined set of trademark information and supporting materials.
The international registration process follows several coordinated stages from filing through to examination in the designated countries.
The application is filed with the national or regional office of origin, checked there and forwarded to the International Bureau of WIPO. This stage usually takes about one month.
WIPO receives the application, conducts formal examination, records the mark in the International Register, publishes it in the WIPO Gazette and notifies the designated member countries. This stage usually takes around two to four months.
The trademark offices of the designated countries carry out substantive examination under their national laws. This stage usually takes up to 12 or 18 months, depending on the country.
The designated offices issue their decisions, the relevant data are recorded, and notifications are sent to the applicant.
Important: Final protection is determined separately in each designated country, even though the application is filed and administered centrally.
A designated national or regional office may issue a provisional refusal if it finds obstacles to protection under the law of the relevant jurisdiction.
A provisional refusal does not necessarily mean that protection is finally denied. In many cases, the holder may respond with arguments, evidence, amendments or other materials within the applicable deadline.
Further proceedings usually take place before the office that issued the refusal and may require a local representative.
Filing an international application requires payment of both national and international fees.
The national fee covers filing, checking and forwarding of the international application by the office of origin.
Important: Some Madrid member countries apply individual fees under the Protocol instead of or in addition to standard supplementary fees.
International fees are paid directly to WIPO. For practical calculation, the WIPO fee calculator should be used.
International trademark protection lasts for 10 years from the date of registration.
The registration may be renewed for further 10-year periods an unlimited number of times.
During the first five years, the international registration depends entirely on the national application or registration on which it is based.
If the basic mark is withdrawn, cancelled or successfully challenged during this period, the international registration may also be affected accordingly.
Important: This dependency period is a key structural feature of the Madrid System and should be considered when planning international trademark strategy.