Parties to the Madrid Agreement

The Madrid Agreement is an international treaty that provides for the registration of trademarks in multiple countries by filing a single application. The agreement aims to simplify and streamline the process for obtaining trademark registration in multiple countries, making it more efficient and cost-effective for businesses to protect their trademarks internationally.

The Madrid Agreement was first signed in 1891 and has undergone several revisions over the years. As of 2021, there are currently 108 parties to the Madrid Agreement, including 107 countries and the European Union.

The parties to the Madrid Agreement can be classified into two categories: members and non-members. Members are those countries that have ratified or acceded to the Agreement and have agreed to be bound by its provisions. Non-members, on the other hand, are countries that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Agreement.

The majority of the parties to the Madrid Agreement are members, with 107 countries and the European Union currently being members. These members include major economic powers such as the United States, China, Japan, and the European Union, as well as many developing countries. As a result, the Madrid Agreement provides businesses with access to a vast and diverse array of markets around the world.

Non-members of the Madrid Agreement include countries such as Canada, Brazil, and India, among others. These countries have not yet ratified or acceded to the Agreement, meaning that businesses seeking trademark protection in these countries must file separate applications in each country.

In addition to the Madrid Agreement, there is also the Madrid Protocol, which is a supplementary treaty to the Agreement. The Protocol allows for the filing of international trademark registration applications, which can be followed by designation of member countries. As of 2021, there are 107 parties to the Madrid Protocol.

In conclusion, the Madrid Agreement and its Protocol provide businesses with a streamlined and cost-effective way to protect their trademarks internationally. The number of parties to the Agreement continues to grow, demonstrating the increasing importance of international trademark protection in today`s global economy.