As of May 24, 2021, the Madrid System will officially welcome its 108th member: the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
On February 24, 2021, Pakistan deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid System with the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO). The arrival of this new member brings the number of countries covered by the Madrid System to 124, and highlights the importance of this international system for the filing and registration of Trademarks.
The Madrid System provides a practical and cost-effective solution for the registration and management of trademarks worldwide. More than 1.5 million international trademarks have been registered since its creation in 1891. While the system has been in place for more than 125 years, three quarters of its member countries have joined it in the last three decades. After the recent accessions of Canada, Samoa, Thailand, and the Sultanate of Brunei, it is now up to Pakistan to join the protocol.
Pakistan’s adhesion to the Madrid Protocol enables the harmonization of Pakistani trademark law at the international level. With the filing of a single international Trademark application, Pakistani applicants now have the possibility to apply for protection in 124 countries. Likewise, Pakistan can be designated by applications from any state party to the Madrid system and international Trademark owners can easily extend their protection in the Pakistani market.
The international trademark system is a major asset for the registration of your trademarks abroad at a lower cost.
Dreyfus can assist you in the management of your trademarks portfolios in all countries of the world. Please feel free to contact us.