Madrid Protocol

The Madrid Protocol for International Trademark Registration is a treaty administered by the International Office of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva. It has been in operation since April 1996 and has been ratified by many countries around the world, including most European countries, the USA, Japan, Australia, China, Russia and, in October 2004, by the European Union (EU).

The Madrid Protocol grants trademark owners the possibility of having their trademarks protected in several countries by submitting one single application directly in their own national or regional trademark office.

On July 2, 2019, Brazil filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) its accession instrument to the Madrid Protocol, and regulated the application of the international trademark. Given that, the treaty is in force in Brazil since October 2, 2019.

From this date, foreign companies may extend their applications for trademark registration to Brazil through an international application filed at their national Trademark Office, which assures overseas trademark application to be faster and cheaper.

Likewise, Brazilian companies may extend their trademark applications to other countries through an international application filed at the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO).

Currently, in addition to being able to receive and submit international trademark applications through the Madrid System, the BPTO is willing to adopt a multiclass trademark application system and trademark co-ownership.