Brazil joins Madrid System for international trademarks

Brazil’s accession to the Madrid System, on 2 October this year, is good news for businesses that operate globally/in the Americas; also given the accession of Canada to the international trademark system on 17 June.

The number of countries and regions joining the international system for trademark registration on the basis of the Madrid Agreement and its Protocol, continues to grow. Brazil is the latest country to deposit an instrument of accession with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which comes into force on 2 October 2019.

The international system for trademark registration (also known as the Madrid System) makes it possible to request trademark protection in one or more member states of the Madrid System via a single application to WIPO in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Madrid System dates back to the ‘Madrid Agreement’ of 1891 and was expanded by the ‘Madrid Protocol' in 1996. Since the accession of Algeria to the Protocol in October 2015, all international trademark registrations are exclusively governed by the Madrid Protocol, making the Madrid Agreement essentially a non-operational treaty.

Brazil will be the 105th member state of the Madrid System. After Brazil’s accession, the Madrid System will cover 121 countries in total, including the EU member states and the three countries of the Benelux. Please note that post-Brexit, the UK will no longer be covered when designating the EU (click here for the latest advice on IRs designating the UK on Brexit).

The ability to designate such a large number of countries and regions in an international trademark registration makes it an increasingly appealing option for businesses. This is even more the case following the accession of Canada and Brazil: two large and economically important countries. For an analysis of the pros and cons of the Madrid System, read our article 'International trademarks: Is the Madrid System right for you?'.

When your business focuses on several countries or when it is about to enter new markets, it is important to determine whether your interests are sufficiently protected in those countries and regions. For advice on the international registration and further information on IP protection in Brazil, please speak to your Novagraaf consultant or contact us below.

Frouke Hekker works at Novagraaf’s Competence Centre. She is based in Amsterdam.