MADRID PROTOCOL - India and the Madrid System for International Registration of Marks.

Madrid system- in a nutshell

• Aims to protect a mark in several countries by filing a single application.
• International Protection in up to 90 countries via a single application.
• Effect of international registration- as if the mark is registered in each of such designated countries. 
• Maintained  & renewed through a single procedure.
• Administered by the International Bureau (IB) of WIPO-maintains the International Register & publishes the WIPO Gazette of International Marks.

Advantages

1. ONE application for a number of countries
2. ONE set of fees - one currency
3. ONE language (English or French)
4. ONE set of Procedural Rules - no need to worry about different national procedural rules 
5. Uniform period of protection - 10 years
6. Easy post-registration management

Advantages: Practice point of view- 

• Speedy disposal, electronic correspondence
• Quick turnaround time
• Simplifies Portfolio Management - only one registration to worry about.

Madrid System is governed by... 

The Madrid Agreement- concluded in 1891 

& 

The Madrid Protocol - concluded in 1989

• Contracting Parties may adhere to either of them or to both.
• Prerequisite for accession- must be a member of the Paris Convention. 
• India is Contracting Party to The Madrid Protocol only.

What's happening in India?

• India acceded to the Madrid Protocol on April 8, 2013. 
• Indian applicant – may protect a mark in 87 countries + European Union.

The Trademarks (Amendment) Act, 2010 

• Chapter IVA inserted for compliance with Madrid Protocol.
• Other amendments –Sec. 11, 21, 23, 45, 151, 156.

Trade Marks (Amendment) Rules, 2013

• All communications/notices, electronic responses.
• Chapter IIIA inserted for compliance with Madrid Protocol.
• Online Filing via “Trademarks International Application system”.

Amendment Act & Rules to be enforced from July 8, 2013.

Relevant provisions: Act Sec.36A to 36G ; Rules 67A to 67M

Advantages of Madrid protocol over Madrid Agreement

• An international application can be based on national application (basic application*) or national registration (basic registration*).
• The protocol can be joined by countries as well as Inter-Governmental Organizations (eg. European Union).
• Other advantages- Individual fee of designated offices, longer refusal period.

Relevant provisions: S.36B(b)&(c);S.36D(1) of the Trademarks Ammd.Act 2010  

Kinds of International Applications

1. International application governed exclusively by the Agreement.
2. International application governed exclusively by the Protocol.
3. International application governed by both the Agreement and the Protocol; this means that some of the designations are made under the Agreement and some under the Protocol.

International registrations relating to India

Possible Scenarios -

• International Applications Originating from India.
• International Applications where India is a designated country.

1. Applications where Office of Origin is  India

The Applicant must-

• be of Indian domicile/national/have a commercial establishment in India. 
• base the international application on an Indian “basic application” or “basic registration”.
• must designate the countries in which the mark is to be protected;
• filing an application online via Trademarks International Application System;
• Application to be filed on Form - MM2.

Relevant provisions- P.Article 2(2), Rule 1;

Fees Payable-

• Directly at WIPO  + handling fee INR 2000 to TMR.
• Currency- Swiss Francs.
• Fees Calculation-
• Basic fee- 653 CHF  plus.
• Supplementary fee (per class)  plus.
• Complementary fee 100 CHF per country; 
• Or Individual fee of the designated country as prescribed for example 301 CHF for USA.
• India  to charge an Individual fee of 61 CHF

TMR after receipt of the International Application-

• Certifies that the application corresponds with the basic application/registration in all respects.
• Forwards the application to IB within 2 months of receipt.
• IB  after receipt of the International Application-  
• checks compliance with the Protocol and Common Regulations;
• checks indication of goods/services, classification, fees paid;
• informs TMR and applicant of irregularities;
• records the mark in the International Register & publishes in the WIPO gazette;
• notifies the designated countries.

Relevant provisions: Act.Sec.36D(4)  ; Rule.67E ;  P.Article. 3 (4)

Refusal of protection:

• designated country examines application as if it was filed directly at the office;
• may declare 'provisional refusal'  of the mark based on i) ex officio objection ii) oppositions
• provisional refusal communicated to IP within 18 months;
• mark is deemed REGISTERED - if no 'provisional refusal' declared within 18 months from receipt of application;
• accorded protection in the designated country.

Relevant Provisions- P Article 5 (2) (c)

2. International Applications where India is a designated country

TMR after receipt of international application-

• may after examination, declare 'provisional refusal' on basis of ex officio objections.
• in case of no objections/after removal of objections by the Applicant - mark is advertised;  
• subsequently, the mark is open for opposition (for 4 months);
• any refusal (ex-officio/opposition) to be informed to IB within 18 months, else mark deemed as PROTECTED in India.

Provisions of Sec. 9 to 21; Sec. 63 & 74 of TM Act, 1999 apply to the International Application.

Relevant Provisions: Act.Sec.36E (2)&(3)&(4)

ALERT! Basic registration in the home country has expired!

Dependence on Basic Mark

• International Registration is dependent on basic application/registration up to 5 years from the date of registration.
• If before the period of 5 years-

1. The basic application is abandoned, withdrawn, refused, rejected by the Office of Origin; OR
2. Basic Registration is invalidated, cancelled, not renewed or expired ………

International Registration ceases to have any effect.