International registration of marks for goods and services

Wide exchange of goods between states conditioned the necessity for manufacturers of goods in registration of their marks for goods and services (further - trademarks) abroad.

To overcome the formalities and inconveniences of registration of trademark severally in every country, it is possible to make use of the procedure according to Madrid Agreement about international registration of marks (of April 14, 1891, Madrid). Ukraine is a member country of Madrid Agreement .

Under the terms of Madrid Agreement, an international registration application can be filed to the International Office in the presence of national registration (trademark Certificate).

Period of validity of international registration is 20 years. Registration can be prolonged at every time for 20 years.

The mark has the same legal protection in every country listed in the international registration application, as if it was applied in this country per se.

In case of necessity of increasing the number of countries in which the legal protection of the mark is asked, i. e., in case of planned goods export extension in different countries, the owner of international registration can file an application about "territorial extension".

Advantages of international registration of trademarks:

- the procedure of filing applications for registration of trademark is simplified, applicant files only one application to International Office for intellectual property designating countries in which the protection is asked;

- the cost of international registration significantly decreases as compared  with the cost of registrations in every country severally;

- the necessity in observance of rules for preparing application documents, impressions of mark, etc. is eliminated in every one of the countries in which the protection of trademark is asked;

- the registration of marks in International Office is made for a period of 20 years (under Madrid Agreement), for a period of 10 years (under Protocol to Madrid Agreement) with the chance of prolonging by paying necessary due fees.

In accordance with Madrid Agreement, the examination time limit is 12 months during which an applicant receives information about protection of his rights in all designated countries or conclusion about refusal of international registration of trademark.

Our firm of patent attorneys of Ukraine «Lazurenko & Partners» provides services for international registration of trademarks.