Madrid System Tips and Tricks

Are you thinking strategically about global trademark protection? Our five-part cheat sheet series breaks down key decisions at each stage of the Madrid System journey – from choosing your Office of origin and target markets, to using digital tools, managing registrations, and renewing on time. Download or explore for a complete strategic overview.

Choosing your Office of origin strategically

Visual features an abstract molecular network design. Large black and white text reads, “Multiple Madrid System connections? Choose your Office of origin strategically.” On the right side are bright pink and teal geometric shapes featuring the letters “TM,” alongside the WIPO Madrid logo at the bottom. A large pink globe-like sphere dominates the lower portion of the image.

To file for international trademark protection through WIPO’s Madrid System, you must have:

  1. A qualifying connection with a Madrid System member – nationality, domicile, or real and effective industrial or commercial establishment.
  2. A trademark application/registration (“basic mark”) with the IP Office of that member.

If you have connections with multiple members – for example, you're a national of one country and resident in another – you can choose which one becomes your Office of origin (where you file your international trademark application). That choice can affect timing, costs, and flexibility.

Choosing where to protect your mark

Visual features global network imagery, bright pink and teal geometric shapes featuring the letters “TM,” alongside the WIPO Madrid logo at the bottom. A large pink globe-like sphere dominates the lower portion of the image. Text reads 'Global trademark protection strategy: Choosing where to protect your trademark.

Expanding trademark protection to new export markets requires strategic planning.

Each Madrid System member has its own protection requirements. Researching these before you file an international trademark application increases your chances of successful protection.

Remember: You don't need to protect everywhere at once. The Madrid System lets you expand protection later as your business grows.

Leveraging Madrid System digital tools

Visual features a teal background with digital code imagery, a pink calculator illustration, trademark and TM symbols. Text reads Global Trademark Protection Strategy: Leveraging Madrid System Digital Tools, WIPO | MADRID.

Protecting your trademark across borders with WIPO’s Madrid System starts with strategic decision making. Our digital tools help you:

  • Check if your trademark is available in your target markets
  • Gather information about local trademark practices and procedures
  • Estimate costs of global trademark protection
  • Build and translate your list of goods and services

You can find all these tools in eMadrid – the Madrid System's digital gateway – bringing everything you need together in one place to support your global trademark journey.

Managing international trademark registrations

Graphic in teal and pink, featuring a laptop with typing hands, and WIPO | MADRID branding elements. Text reads Global Trademark Protection Strategy. Managing international trademark registrations.

Most people know the Madrid System for its single application mechanism for protecting trademarks across 130+ export markets.

But that’s far from all. Managing protection is just as streamlined.

In eMadrid you can renew protection, expand geographical scope of protection, transfer ownership, and much more – for all your designated export markets at once, through single requests.

Renewing international trademark registrations

Graphic in teal and pink, featuring a magenta-tinted visual of a hand using a computer mouse, and WIPO | MADRID branding elements. Text reads Global Trademark Protection Strategy. Renewing international trademark registrations.

Renewing trademark protection in multiple markets means tracking multiple deadlines. With WIPO's Madrid System, it's just one deadline you have to watch. One international trademark registration = one renewal date across all your designated markets.

Here’s how it works:

  • Renew every 10 years
  • Act within 6 months before expiry, or during the 6-month grace period after expiry (extra fees apply)
  • Submit one request to renew across all your designated markets
  • Receive automatic reminders in eMadrid

Download all 5 cheat sheets [ZIP]

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow us for tips, facts, stories, learning opportunities and more on WIPO’s Madrid System (trademarks) – and Hague System (designs).