Trademarks are a key element of any successful business marketing strategy as directories them to identify, promote and license their goods or services in the marketplace and distinguish these from associated with us their competitors, thereby cementing customer loyalty. A trademark symbolizes the promise within a quality product and in this global and increasingly electronic marketplace, a trademark is often the only way for customers to identify a company’s products and services. Trademark protection hinders moves to “free ride” on the goodwill of a company by using similar distinctive signs to market inferior or similar products or services. Loss, dilution or infringement of a high-value trademark could prove devastating to a business.
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is a specialised agency of the Un (UN) which oversees the task of international registration of trademarks through Madrid Set-up.
Although it is unrealistic to obtain an ‘international trademark’, whereby a single trademark registration will automatically apply around the world, the Madrid system permits the filing, registration and maintenance of trade mark rights in more than one jurisdiction on a global basis.
Background-
The Madrid is actually administered by the International Bureau found on earth Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva, Swiss. The Madrid system comprises two treaties; the Madrid Agreement In connection with the International Registration of Marks, which was concluded in 1891 and entered into force in 1892, and the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement, which came into operation on 1 April 1996. The Madrid Agreement and Madrid Protocol were adopted at diplomatic conferences held in Madrid, Spain.
Recent Developments-
There are many significant recent developments trademarks Law Vis a Vis Madrid system. The accession of United States and European Union to Madrid Protocol on 2nd November 2003 and 1st October 2004 respectively is considered essential as development.
A record 36,471 international trademarks applications were received in 2006 by wipo under Madrid platform. This represents 8.6% increase on figures for 2005.
No. Of developing countries witnessed significant growth in international trademarks filing in 2006.China is the most popular designation for international protection because of the company’s ever growing economy and trade potential.
WIPO also promotes use of electronic communication for processing of international software program. In April 2006, WIPO introduced a new Online Trademark Assignment fee in India international trademarks renewal service enabling users to maintain their trademarks rights quickly and efficiently, about 22% renewals recorded electronically.
A number of latest improvements, including new search facilities, were also introduced for the ROMARIN database that contains information regarding all international marks that currently in force in the international trademark register. As from January 1, 2007, the ROMARIN data base was made available, free-of-charge, round the WIPO web site.
Indian Perspective-
India is also considering and is certainly inclined towards granting accession to the Madrid system. India is beginning in order to the various attributes of acceding to the Madrid System, in particular that, the applicant for an International registration is must file only one application, pay one fee in local currency, and is not needed at least initially, to submit foreign powers of legitimate. Renewals, assignment recorders, changes of name and/or address of an internationally registration may be affected by filing one document with the International Bureau. Moreover, the payment of any filing fee and preparation of in one application should potentially provide savings in legal service fees.
India has asserted it would join the Madrid System after making due preparations, including modernisation of its trademark offices. Investment and action in this direction should be expedited and Indian providers of services and goods enabled to take advantage of the system without further delay. It ought to be noted that the Madrid System doesn’t prevent trademark owners from routing their application through the IP offices of member-countries other than their own. If India does not accede to the software early, Indian businesses may be made to put in their international applications from the IP offices of third countries by setting up minimal operations prescribed for this purpose.