International Trade Mark Search & Application

The international trade mark system (known professionally as the "Madrid System") allows the proprietor or applicant of an existing United Kingdom or European Union trade mark to extend the protection of the trade mark to any country that is a member of the international trade mark system.  The Madrid System consists of countries that are signatories to the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol, the United Kingdom is a member of the Madrid Protocol and therefore we (a UK based trade mark agent) can apply to register a trade mark in any country that is a member of the Madrid Protocol.

A list of countries that can be designated in an international trade mark application can be found  by using our International Trade Mark Fee Calculator.

Unfortunately, you cannot use the international trade mark system to pursue registration in an international country until you have firstly applied to register the same trade mark onto the United Kingdom or European Union Trade Marks Register.  Furthermore, the international trade mark will be dependent on the United Kingdom or European Union trade mark (the "home" trade mark) for the first 5 years of it's life and it is therefore important that the 'home' registration is maintained until the initial 5-year period has ended.

Please note that if your 'home' registration is refused registration or is declared invalid or revoked within the first 5 years of the filing date of the International application, the International application will also be cancelled.

It is important that a trade mark clearance search is completed in the countries of interest prior to filing the International application, to ensure there are no potential conflict issues with any other existing trade mark.  You can apply for an international trade mark clearance search in the International Trade Mark Fee Calculator section of our website.

Just like UK and EC trade marks, International trade mark registrations last for 10 years and are then renewable in 10 year periods thereafter.