United States Joins the Madrid Protocol
Multilateral treaty strengthens U.S. trademark owners' competitive position in global markets

The United States completed the formal process for joining the Madrid Protocol on August 2nd when it deposited the accession document, signed by President Bush the previous day, with the World Intellectual Property Organization. The Madrid Protocol is a treaty that facilitates the protection of U.S. trademark rights throughout the world. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will begin accepting Madrid filings on November 2, 2003.

"U.S. participation in the Madrid Protocol is another sign of the growing importance that American businesses place on protecting their intellectual property globally," noted Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property James E. Rogan. "This treaty provides U.S. trademark owners a faster, simpler, less costly means of protecting their marks in any or all of the Protocol's 58 member countries."

Starting in November, a U.S. trademark owner will be able to file a single on-line application with the USPTO in English, pay the fees in U.S. dollars, and potentially obtain protection for its mark in any or all of the 58 Madrid Protocol member countries. Without this treaty, the trademark owner seeking equivalent protection would have to file an individual application in each country, in the language of that country and in the currency of that country.

All applications filed under the Madrid Protocol must be filed electronically. In turn, USPTO will process the applications electronically. The USPTO's transformation to e-government is a key element of the agency's 21st Century Strategic Plan. Nearly 60 percent of all trademark applications currently are filed electronically. Electronic filing and processing of Madrid applications further the agency's commitment to a fully electronic trademark operation in fiscal year 2004.