Posted on Wednesday 24 October 2018 by Cruickshank Intellectual Property

One of the most common questions we get asked here at Cruickshank is if there is a worldwide trade mark. While this type of trade mark does not exist, it is possible to obtain international trade mark protection by registering your trade mark in various countries through one single application. This is known as the Madrid System which currently covers 118 countries and is administered through the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Figures show increase in applications through the Madrid System.

According to the 2017 Annual Report released last month, the Madrid System saw another year of consecutive growth with over 56,000 trade marks filed. This was an increase of 5% from the previous year and the largest amount in the systems history. According to this report provided by WIPO, this growth has been driven by applications in China, Russia and the UK. However, for the fourth year in a row, the USA has been the largest user of the Madrid System, closely followed by Germany, China, France and the UK.

The European Union has been the jurisdiction which has attracted the highest amount of designations, followed by China, then the USA. While 16 of the top 20 applicants of the Madrid System have been Europe based companies.

Data taken for this report has also suggested that many of the trade mark holders using the Mardrid System came from smaller enterprises and individuals rather than large multi-nationals.

You can read the full report here for more information.

Is the Madrid System right for me?

The Madrid System offers brand owners the opportunity to file one application in multiple jurisdictions based on their mark. It can be a cost-effective and convenient choice when it comes to deciding on how best to proceed with protection of your trade mark. A company which operates globally in various marketplaces may find such a system beneficial to their intellectual property strategy. Given the fact that a home or base application is needed before you can apply through the Madrid System we suggest speaking with a trade mark professional who can offer their expertise and advice on how best to proceed when it comes to protecting your trade mark.

If you would like to know more about protecting your intellectual property contact us where we will be happy to arrange a free consultation with a member of our team.