The so-called “international” trademark system (also referred to as the “Madrid Agreement and Protocol system”) currently covers 132 countries, accounting for more than 80% of world trade.
New members regularly join this system because of its highly attractive nature. Thus, Grenada acceded to the Madrid Union on 15 March 2026.
It is therefore now possible to designate this Caribbean island within an “international” trademark, by means of a filing or a subsequent designation, before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The accession of this territory is welcomed by trademark owners, who will now be able to obtain local protection at a lower cost compared with filing a national trademark application before that national Office.
It should be recalled that the Madrid System allows a trademark owner to extend protection in one or more member countries on particularly attractive fee terms and through a single registration procedure characterised by:
- A single trade mark filing designating one or more member countries,
- A single currency (Swiss franc),
- A single point of contact,
- A single language of procedure (with French, for example, being available),
- A single application designating several classes (multi-class filing),
- A single registration certificate,
- A single renewal application,
- A single recordal request in the event of a change of name, address or ownership.
Without such a system, a trademark owner wishing to extend its rights, for example to Germany, China, Australia and the United States of America, would have had to file its trademark in each of those countries. The Madrid System avoids such inconvenience by simplifying the administrative formalities, reducing the budget to be allocated to them, and enabling legal protection identical to that conferred by a national trademark filing.
The registration of an international trademark is, however, conditional upon the prior existence of a basic mark (filed or registered) in a State or organisation that is a member of the Madrid System.
Each territory designated in the international trademark application has a maximum period of twelve to eighteen months from the date of notification of the international registration to examine the trade mark under its own legislation.
In a majority of countries, only a local representative is authorised to act before its Office in order to respond to an objection.
In this respect, SANTARELLI relies on its network of preferred associates to assist you with these procedures.
Where the trademark is intended to be used on the European market, it may be strategically appropriate to opt directly for filing a European Union trademark covering the 27 Member States of the European Union.
Our legal team is at your disposal to devise the strategy best suited to your project and to answer your questions.
April 2026
Contributing author
