International Applications

16 December 2009

Trade marks are territorial. You may or may not be aware that there is no such thing as a "word-wide" trade mark. From a basic level you have to file seperate applications for each and every country that you require protection in. However there is what's known as the Madrid Protocol.

The Madrid Protocol allows you to file an international application if you already have a national mark. You file the application through WIPO and designate i.e. select the countries you require protection in from the list below:

  • Albania 
  • Antigua & Barbuda 
  • Armenia 
  • Australia 
  • Austria 
  • Azerbaijan  
  • Bahrain 
  • Belarus 
  • Belgium 
  • Bhutan 
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana  
  • Bulgaria 
  • China 
  • Croatia 
  • Cuba 
  • Cyprus 
  • Czech Republic 
  • Denmark 
  • Estonia 
  • European Union 
  • Finland 
  • France 
  • Georgia 
  • Germany 
  • Ghana
  • Greece 
  • Hungary 
  • Iceland 
  • Iran 
  • Ireland 
  • Italy 
  • Japan 
  • Kenya 
  • Korea (North) 
  • Korea (South) 
  • Kurgyzstan 
  • Latvia 
  • Lesotho 
  • Liechtenstein 
  • Lithuania 
  • Luxembourg 
  • Macedonia 
  • Madagascar
  • Moldova 
  • Monaco 
  • Mongolia 
  • Morocco 
  • Mozambique 
  • Namibia 
  • Netherlands 
  • Norway 
  • Oman  
  • Poland 
  • Portugal 
  • Romania 
  • Russian Federation 
  • San Marino  
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Serbia & Montenegro 
  • Sierra Leone 
  • Singapore 
  • Slovakia 
  • Slovenia 
  • Spain 
  • Swaziland 
  • Sweden 
  • Switzerland 
  • Syria 
  • Turkey 
  • Turkmenistan 
  • Ukraine 
  • United Kingdom 
  • USA 
  • Vietnam 
  • Zambia
  • Your mark will be sent to the relevant trade mark offices which will have 18 months to oppose the application.

    Ben can be contacted via email on ben@trademarkroom.com.