Intellectual Property Blog

By Stephen D. Wilson | July 16, 2024 On May 3, 2024, Qatar became the fourth Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nation to join an international trademark treaty among more than 130 countries including the United States. Madrid Union On May 3, 2024, the Government of Qatar deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol (the governing Treaty of the Madrid System) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).  The Madrid Protocol will enter into force with respect to Qatar on August 3, 2024. The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks [“Madrid System”] is an international trademark registration [...]

By Stephen D. Wilson | May 6, 2023 Effective May 6, 2023, the Republic of Mauritius joined two intellectual property (IP) treaties that expand options for IP owners to register their trademarks and industrial designs internationally. Madrid Union On February 6, 2023, the Government of the Republic of Mauritius deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks [“Madrid System”] is an international trademark registration system established over a century ago that currently includes more than 125 countries, representing more than 80% of [...]

Effective February 24, 2023, brand owners will have a new option to protect their trademarks in Belize. Belize On November 24, 2022, the Government of Belize deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), making it the 113th member of the Madrid System. The Madrid Protocol will enter into force for Belize on February 24, 2023. Madrid System The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (Madrid System) is an international trademark registration system that was established over 130 years ago by 9 countries and has grown to include more than [...]

The Republic of Cabo Verde (also known as Cabo Verde or Cape Verde) has joined an intellectual property (IP) treaty between the U.S. and over 125 other countries that continues to expand global trademark protection options for brand owners. Republic of Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) On April 6, 2022, the Government of Cabo Verde deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), making it the 112th member of the Madrid System. The Madrid Protocol will enter into force for Cabo Verde on July 6, 2022. Newest Madrid Union Members In addition to [...]

Brand owners will have a new option to protect trademarks in the Republic of Chile under foreign intellectual property (IP) treaties effective July 4, 2022. Madrid System The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (Madrid System) is an international trademark registration system that 9 countries collaborated to create more than a century ago. Today, the Madrid System includes more than 110 members and over 125 countries, representing more than 80% of world trade. The Madrid System is governed by the Madrid Agreement of 1891 (Madrid Agreement) and the Madrid Protocol of 1989 (Madrid Protocol), as those treaties have [...]

By Stephen D. Wilson | January 12, 2022 Effective March 27, 2022, U.S. brand owners will have an additional option to protect trademarks in Jamaica under international intellectual property (IP) treaties. Madrid System Over a century ago, 9 countries collaborated to create an international trademark registration system, which is now known as the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (Madrid System). The Madrid System has expanded to include more than 100 members and cover over 125 countries, representing more than 80% of world trade. The Madrid System is governed by the Madrid Agreement of 1891 (Madrid Agreement) and [...]