The International Route of Trademark Protection under the Madrid system can be followed by those who would like to use their national trademark application in order to expand their protection internationally. There are several reasons to prefer the international route, such as seeking for protection in multiple markets, especially if these are located in different regions, as part of an export strategy or seeking for flexibility to add new markets, as export plans are developing. Finally, there can be budgetary or time constraints for the registration and management of one’s trademarks. This Guide is intended for potential applicants and holders of international registrations of trademarks under the Madrid System.
The purpose of the Guide is to answer to basic questions about how to use the Madrid system for the protection of trademarks internationally, and how to benefit from the customized tools designed to assist potential users of the system in the filing of their applications and the management of their international registrations.