With effect from November 07, 2017, Thailand ascends to become the 99th member of the Madrid System.
The Madrid System provides a system for the international registration of trade marks in a single filing procedure. In one trade mark application, in a single language, it is possible for a trade mark applicant to obtain registration of their trade mark in up to 99 Madrid Union member states. An international trade mark registration designating multiple member states is often more costs effective and time efficient than multiple individual national trade mark applications.
The Madrid application must be based on an existing national application or registration in one of the contracting states or regions e.g. UK or the European Union. Once registered, each designated state registration follows the opposition procedure of that state or region in the same way as a national or regional trade mark application.
Once registered, the Madrid international trade mark registration is the equivalent of a national or regional trade mark registration in respect of each of the states or regions designated in the application. Essentially, the international filing becomes a collection of national trade mark rights.
The addition of Thailand to the Madrid Union means it is now possible to obtain and international trade mark registration for one or all of the following 99 Madrid Union member states:
- African Intellectual Property Organisation
- Cuba
- Israel
- Namibia
- Spain
- Albania
- Cyprus
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Sudan
- Algeria
- Czech Republic
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Swaziland
- Antigua & Barbuda
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Kazakhstan
- Norway
- Sweden
- Armenia
- Denmark
- Kenya
- Oman
- Switzerland
- Australia
- Egypt
- Kyrgyzstan
- Philippines
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Austria
- Estonia
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Poland
- Tajikistan
- Azerbaijan
- European Union
- Latvia
- Portugal
- Thailand
- Bahrain
- Finland
- Lesotho
- Republic of Korea
- The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Belarus
- France
- Liberia
- Republic of Moldova
- Tunisia
- Belgium
- Gambia
- Liechtenstein
- Romania
- Turkey
- Bhutan
- Georgia
- Lithuania
- Russian Federation Turkmenistan
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Ghana
- Luxembourg
- Rwanda
- Ukraine
- Botswana
- Greece
- Madagascar
- San Marino
- United Kingdom
- Brunei
- Darussalam
- Hungary
- Mexico
- Sao Tome & Principe
- USA
- Bulgaria
- Iceland
- Monaco
- Serbia
- Uzbekistan
- Cambodia
- India
- Mongolia
- Sierra Leone
- Viet Nam
- China
- Germany
- Montenegro
- Singapore
- Zambia
- Columbia
- Iran
- Morocco
- Slovakia
- Zimbabwe
- Croatia
- Ireland
- Mozambique
- Slovenia
- Available early 2018: Indonesia
If you require any further information on international trade mark registrations please do not hesitate to contact us direct at franksco@franksco.com.
Article written by Abigail Welford.
Article Published November 1st, 2017
