Pakistan becomes the 108th Member of the Madrid system on international trade marks, which now covers 124 countries.
On February 24, 2021, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid protocol with the director-general of the world intellectual property organisation (WIPO) to become the 108th member of the Madrid system on international trade marks, which now covers 124 countries.
The Protocol will enter into force for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on May 24, 2021.
Starting May 24, 2021, UK and EU owners of existing international registered trademarks can add Pakistan as an additional designated state.
For those clients not already having an international trade mark registration, Pakistan can be added when filing a new international trade mark registration.
An international trade mark registration is based upon a national or regional base registration or application, for example a United Kingdom registered trade mark or a European Union registered trade mark. The international trade mark system allows for registration of the mark internationally, designating any one or more of the 124 territories within the Madrid system. Once registered internationally, the national intellectual property office of each state designated in the international registration can examine the international mark for that territory according to the national law in that territory.
Once international registration is finalised in any particular territory, the international registration has rights equivalent to a national trademark registration in that territory.
Acceptance or refusal of the international registration in one territory does not affect acceptance or refusal of the international registration in any other territory of the international registration.
Once set up, adding a territory to an international trade mark registration is usually more cost effective than the alternative of filing a national registered trademark application in that territory.
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Article Published March 9th, 2021
