Thailand Joins the Madrid System

Thailand has become the 99^th member of the Madrid System after the Government of Thailand signed on to the Madrid Protocol on 7 August 2017.

The Madrid Protocol is a trademark filing system which aims to centralise the trademark application process across its member countries. It is administered by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in Geneva and allows applicants to file for the same trademark across multiple countries in a single application, a single language (English, French or Spanish), with a single set of fees (in Swiss Francs). Now with the addition of Thailand, the Madrid System has 99 members, covering 115 territories; including Australia.

From 7 November 2017, Thai trademark owners will be able to file for trademarks across the 114 other Madrid System territories through their local Intellectual Property Office. International brand owners from other Madrid member countries can also seek trademark protection in Thailand through the Madrid System from this date. Current owners of international trademark registrations can request to expand the scope of their protection to include Thailand.

The Madrid Protocol system is a convenient and cost effective option for international trademark filing. For Australian trademark owners, if an Australian trademark application has been filed within 6 months of the international application, applicants may also be able to obtain retrospective international protection from the Australian trademark filing date.

Need trademark protection in a country that is not a member of the Madrid Protocol? A direct national trademark application may need to be made to secure trademark protection in that jurisdiction.

Find our more about our International Trademark Filing Services.

https://www.coopermills.com.au/what-we-do/trademark-law/international-trademark-registrations/