Global IP
Madrid Protocol Explained: One Application, 100+ Countries
📅 April 2025⏱ 7 min read✍ I-Pro Solutions Team
If your business operates internationally — or plans to — protecting your trademark in every market before you launch is not optional. The Madrid Protocol makes this possible with a single application filed from India.
What is the Madrid Protocol?
The Madrid Protocol is an international treaty administered by WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) that allows trademark owners to seek protection in multiple countries through a single application filed with their home trademark office. For Indian businesses, this means filing through the Indian Trade Marks Office.
Step-by-Step: How it Works
1
File a base application in India — you need an existing Indian trademark application or registration as the basis.
2
File the Madrid application designating the specific countries you want protection in.
3
WIPO processes and forwards the application to each designated country's trademark office.
4
Each country examines the application under its local laws. Most grant protection within 12–18 months.
When Does Madrid Protocol Make Sense?
✓ You export goods or services to 3+ countries
✓ You're about to launch internationally
✓ You want to prevent competitors from registering your brand abroad
✓ You're licensing your brand internationally