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India and the Madrid Protocol An update on the Madrid system. AIPPI, Hyderabad October 14, 2011. Debbie Roenning Director, Legal Division, Brands and Designs Sector. The Madrid System. A centralized filing mechanism
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India and the Madrid ProtocolAn update on the Madrid system AIPPI, HyderabadOctober 14, 2011 Debbie RoenningDirector, Legal Division, Brands and Designs Sector
The Madrid System A centralized filing mechanism A one-stop shop for trademark holders to obtain and maintain trademark protection in export markets An option to the national route A purely procedural treaty The domestic legislations of the designated Contracting Parties set the conditions for protecting a trademark and determine the rights which result from protection
1 Agreement only29 Protocol only (including EU)55 Agreement and Protocol 85 Members Madrid System
Accessions • Recent accessions to the Madrid Protocol • 2010: Sudan, Israel, Kazakhstan • 2011: Tajikistan (as of June 30, 2011) • Future accessions? • Colombia, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic • ASEAN countries by 2015 • India • South-Africa • Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago • Malta • New Zealand
Basic features Entitlement An international application may be based on one or more applications or registrations The fees payable in connection with the application The basic fee (CHF 653 or 903) A complementary fee for each designated Contracting Party with supplementary fee OR individual fee Scope of protection – to be determined by designated Contracting Party The Contracting Party may elect for 12/18 months refusal period
Basic features (2) Statement of grant of protection Subsequent designation The 5 years dependency period Central attack – Ceasing of effects (withdrawal, lapse, renunciation, final decision of rejection, cancellation or invalidation) Transformation of the International registration into national applications 10 years term of protection with renewal every 10 years
International Registration Procedure International Application Verifies, certifies and forwards the International application to the International Bureau OFFICE OF ORIGIN Formal examination only. Inscribes the International registration in the International Register, publishes it in the Gazette, issues a certificate and sends notifications to the designated Contracting Parties INTERNATIONAL BUREAU OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED CONTRACTING PARTIES Substantive examination. Decision on refusal or granting of rights based on their domestic legislation
The National Route vs. the Madrid Route Many Offices for filing Many application forms Many languages Many currencies Many registrations Many renewals Many modifications Foreign attorney needed from filing One Office for filing One single application form One language (E/F/S) One currency (CHF) One international registration One renewal One modification Foreign attorney first needed in case of refusal
Benefits for Trademark Owners Simple and economical procedure A single set of simple formalities A single filing Office Low registration fees No need to pay foreign agents for filings No need to pay translation of the paperwork into several languages Effective procedure A single international application produces the same legal effect in various countries A fixed deadline for the confirmation or refusal of the legal effects in each designated country
Benefits for the Offices and Government The Contracting Parties can focus on substantive examination The Madrid system has a positive effect on economic growth It empowers SMEs It promotes international trade by contributing to the opening of new markets and assisiting in development of export It creates a more favorable climate for foreign investment in the internal market
Benefits for Local Agents The Madrid Protocolis optional and it does notreplacethe direct filing route Applicants would need the services of local agents at filing stage or at post-registration stage Increased designations will create more business opportunities (substantive work), like searches, refusals, oppositions, request for cancellations, dispute settlements, license and assignments contracts, and enforcement Post-registration activity may compensate for any reduction in local filing activity
Recent developments • Mandatory Statements of grant of protection as of January 1, 2011 • Two anniversaries in April 2011 • 120 years of the Madrid system (April 14, 1891) • 15 years of operations of the Madrid Protocol (April 1, 1996) • Translation of certain documents upon request • Statement of grant of protection following a provisional refusal • Limitation of the list of goods and services
Statistics 2010 and 2011 • In 2010: • 39,687 international applications filed • 37,533 international registrations recorded • 21,949 international registrations renewed • By end of 2010, there were 526,674 international registrations in force, equivalent to • Over 5.5 million active national/regional registrations • Involving 174, 349 trademark holders • In 2011, up + 7.4% compared to 2010
Online Information Services • Legal texts, Guide and Information Notices • WIPO Gazette of International Marks • E-Renewal Tool • Fee Calculator: Costing service • Madrid Simulator: On-line filing guide tool • Goods & Services Manager: A WIPO-administered database of accepted indications of goods and services • ROMARIN: On-line search database • Dynamic Madrid Statistics free access at http://www.wipo.int/madrid/en/
New Web based Client Services • Madrid Portfolio Manager • Will allow holders and their representatives to manage their portfolio online • Madrid Realtime Status • Will inform of status of an international application/registration (www.madrid.int/mrs) • Madrid Electronic Alert • Will inform of changes in a specific international registration
An Income-sharing system • The Madrid system is an income-sharing system • From 2005 to 2010, the International Bureau received 1,081.7 million CHF in income from its Madrid services • 23.22% − 251.2 million CHF − kept by WIPO • 76.78% − 830.5 million CHF − sent to the Offices • In 2010, 192.8 million CHF received as income • 47.7 million CHF kept by WIPO • 145.0 million CHF sent to Offices
Thank you for your attention debbie.roenning@wipo.int