What does the Madrid Protocol do?
An international agreement called the Madrid Protocol (the Protocol) entered into force on 1 April 1996 and has become a convenient and economical means of securing trademark registration in member countries. The Madrid Protocol is an efficient Madrid system of international registration of numbers administered by the International Bureau (IB) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Speaking of Pakistan, it formally acceded to the Madrid System on 24 February 2021 and ratified it on 24 May 2021. This means that trademark holders can apply for protection in 124 countries by filing one application and paying one set of fees. In addition to the same system, applicants can modify, update or expand their global trademark portfolio through a centralized system.
Pakistan became the 108th member of the Madrid System. Now trademark applications under the Madrid Protocol are being received in Trade Marks Registry of Pakistan from May 24, 2021. And now this system has been implemented in Pakistan.
Applicants for international registration must meet one of the following three criteria:
- Applicant must be a citizen of Pakistan
- It is necessary for the applicant to be resident in Pakistan
- It is also important for the applicant to have a genuine and effective business or commercial establishment in Pakistan.
Madrid Protocol countries 2022:
The following countries are member countries of the Madrid Protocol:
Applicants may apply to the following countries that are members of the Madrid Protocol.