International Trademark (Madrid Protocol)

International Trademark Registration via the Madrid Protocol: The Complete 2026 Guide

Expanding your brand beyond India means your Indian trademark registration alone will not protect you abroad - trademark rights are territorial. The Madrid Protocol is the most efficient way for Indian businesses to extend protection to 130+ countries through a single application. This guide explains how it works, the real costs, and how KanoonPe's attorneys manage your international filing end to end.

Quick summary

• What it is: A single international trademark application filed through IP India and WIPO that extends protection to multiple member countries under the Madrid System.
• Governed by: the Madrid Protocol (administered by WIPO) and the Trade Marks Act, 1999 (Sections 36A–36G, "International Registration") in India.
• Best for: Indian businesses exporting, expanding, or selling online in multiple countries who want brand protection abroad without filing separately in each one.
• You get: One application, one language, one set of fees (in Swiss Francs), covering as many member countries as you choose.
• KanoonPe price: Flat, all-inclusive quote on a free callback · Timeline: filed via IP India in 7–10 working days; WIPO processing takes 12–18 months per designated country.

Quick facts

What is international trademark registration via the Madrid Protocol?

International trademark registration via the Madrid Protocol is a system administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that lets an Indian trademark owner file a single international application - based on an existing Indian application or registration - to seek protection in any number of the 130+ member countries, instead of filing separate national applications in each one.

India joined the Madrid Protocol in 2013, and Indian applicants file through the Trade Marks Registry (IP India) as the "Office of Origin." The application is submitted on Form MM2, forwarded by IP India to WIPO in Geneva, and WIPO then forwards it to the trademark offices of every country you designate. Each designated country examines the mark under its own national law and can accept or refuse protection - Madrid centralises the filing and management, but it does not guarantee automatic approval everywhere.

This route is significantly cheaper and simpler than hiring local counsel in every country individually, and it lets you manage renewals, changes of ownership, and expansions to new countries later, all through a single WIPO record.

Who should use the Madrid Protocol?

• Exporters and manufacturers selling physical goods into multiple countries who need brand protection where they ship.
• SaaS and D2C brands operating in international markets like the US, UK, EU, UAE, or Singapore.
• Franchisors planning to license the brand to partners outside India.
• Startups raising international investment, where investors expect the brand to be protected in key target markets.
• Businesses that already export informally and want to lock in the mark before a local competitor registers it first in that country.

You must already have a pending or registered trademark application in India before you can file internationally through Madrid - this is called the "basic application" or "basic registration."

Benefits of filing via the Madrid Protocol

1. One application, many countries - File once through IP India instead of engaging separate agents in each target country.
2. Lower cost than national filings - A single set of WIPO fees is typically cheaper than instructing local attorneys in every jurisdiction.
3. Centralised management - Renewals, assignments, and address changes across all designated countries are handled through one WIPO record.
4. Add countries later - You can designate additional member countries after the initial filing as your business expands ("subsequent designation").
5. Faster overall timeline - Each national office must examine and respond within 12–18 months, or protection is deemed granted by default in most member countries.
6. Single renewal cycle - All designations renew together every 10 years through WIPO, instead of tracking separate deadlines per country.

Documents required for Madrid Protocol filing

Basic application details

• Copy of the existing or pending Indian trademark application/registration (application number, class, mark representation)
• Certified copy of the Indian application, if required by WIPO

Applicant details

• PAN and identity proof / Certificate of Incorporation
• Business address and Indian address for service
• List of countries to be designated for protection

Filing authorisation

• Power of Attorney authorising the filing attorney
• Priority document (if claiming priority from a recent Indian filing within 6 months)

Ready to get started? Talk to a verified expert → - get a transparent, all-inclusive quote for international trademark registration within one business hour.

Madrid Protocol filing process (step by step)

1. Confirm your basic application. You need an existing pending or registered Indian trademark; if you don't have one yet, we file it first - see Trademark Registration.
2. Select target countries. We help you shortlist member countries based on your export markets, investor requirements, or expansion plans.
3. Prepare Form MM2. The international application is drafted, mirroring the basic Indian mark exactly, with the designated countries and classes listed.
4. File through IP India. The application is submitted to the Trade Marks Registry, which certifies and forwards it to WIPO as the Office of Origin.
5. WIPO formal examination. WIPO checks the application for formalities and, if in order, records it in the International Register and publishes it in the WIPO Gazette.
6. National examination in each country. Each designated country's trademark office examines the mark under its own law within 12–18 months and can accept, refuse, or raise objections.
7. International registration confirmed. Once all designated offices respond (or the deadline lapses without refusal), the mark is protected in each accepting country for 10 years.

International trademark registration cost in India

KanoonPe offers a flat, all-inclusive quote covering professional drafting and filing support; WIPO and per-country designation fees (payable in Swiss Francs) are billed at actuals based on the countries you choose, shown upfront before filing.

Timeline for international trademark protection

Post-filing steps

• Track each designated country's status separately, since offices respond independently and on different timelines.
• Respond to provisional refusals from any national office within that country's deadline, usually with local counsel coordinated by your Madrid filing agent.
• Renew every 10 years through a single WIPO renewal covering all designated countries - see Trademark Renewal.
• Add new countries later via subsequent designation as you expand into new markets.
• Monitor for conflicting filings in your key international markets - see Trademark Watch / Monitoring.

Madrid Protocol vs national filing in each country

Why choose KanoonPe

• Transparent flat pricing - one all-inclusive professional fee; WIPO and per-country fees shown upfront before you commit.
• Filed within 7–10 days or refund - every Madrid filing ships with a written SLA.
• One accountable case owner - a verified IP attorney manages the basic application, MM2 filing, and coordination with national offices.
• Live status tracking - track WIPO and per-country examination status in your dashboard.

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