Upcoming Changes To The Madrid Protocol International Trade Mark System

The World Intellectual Property Office ("WIPO") has recently announced upcoming amendments to the regulations which govern the Madrid Protocol which come into effect on the 1 November 2023 and 1 November 2024.

The Madrid Protocol provides an accessible and efficient way of filing a trade mark application, known as an International Application, in multiple jurisdictions at the same time.

When a country is designated as part of an International Application, the local Intellectual Property Office of that country is given an opportunity to examine the designation in accordance with local laws. In the event that the mark is considered objectionable in that country, the local IP Office will issue a provisional refusal and a deadline by which to respond. The time period allocated for responding to a provisional refusal can often be short and can vary significantly across jurisdictions, creating confusion which is frequently amplified by the deadlines not being clearly