MARCH 2008
Measuring the merits of Madrid
When the US joined the Madrid Protocol in 2003, WIPO was optimistic that it would inspire other countries in the Americas to join the system. Eileen McDermott looks at the progress so far
The US joined the Madrid Protocol in 2003 amid considerable scepticism from IP practitioners. Would the relatively lower filing costs it promised prove worth the potential risks? Were there even enough member countries to warrant the effort of an applicant? Five years on, more than 20 additional countries have joined the international trade mark registration system, the number of Madrid filings made through the USPTO has increased by 10.5% and the US is the third largest user of the system. But – with a very few exceptions – Latin America and Canada have yet to get on board, and many practitioners believe that Madrid may need a major overhaul before more countries agree to join.
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