Madrid Agreement

Madrid Agreement (Indications of Source)

The Madrid Agreement for the Repression of False or Deceptive Indications of Source on Goods, often simply referred to as the Madrid Agreement (Indications of Source), is a specialized international treaty dealing with a specific aspect of intellectual property closely related to geographical indications and trademarks. 

It was adopted in Madrid in 1891, the same year as the Madrid Agreement for the International Registration of Marks, and is also administered by WIPO. However, it has undergone revisions in Washington (1911), The Hague (1925), London (1934), Lisbon (1958), and Stockholm (1967).

The core purpose of this Madrid Agreement is to combat and repress the use of false or deceptive indications of source on goods. It aims to prevent manufacturers and traders from misleading consumers about the geographical origin of their products.

Contracting Parties:
Algeria - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Brazil - Bulgaria - Cuba - Czech Republic - Dominican Republic - Egypt - France - Germany - Guatemala - Hungary - Iran (Islamic Republic of) - Ireland - Israel - Italy - Japan - Lebanon - Liechtenstein - Monaco - Montenegro - Morocco - New Zealand - Poland - Portugal - Republic of Moldova - San Marino - Serbia - Slovakia - Spain - Sri Lanka - Sweden - Switzerland - Syrian Arab Republic - Tunisia - Türkiye - United Kingdom

Madrid Agreement Concerning Marks

The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), is a cornerstone of international intellectual property law. 

It comprises two treaties: the older Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, concluded in 1891, and the more modern Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement (the Madrid Protocol), adopted in 1989. Together, they offer a streamlined and cost-effective way for businesses and individuals to protect their trademarks in numerous countries worldwide.

Prior to the Madrid System, if a business wanted to protect its trademark in multiple countries, it had to file separate applications with the national (or regional) trademark office of each country. The Madrid System aims to overcome these challenges by providing a centralized system for obtaining and managing trademark protection globally.

Contracting Parties:
Albania - Algeria - Armenia - Austria - Azerbaijan - Belarus - Belgium - Bhutan - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bulgaria - China - Croatia - Cuba - Cyprus - Czech Republic - Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Egypt - Eswatini - France - Germany - Guatemala - Hungary - Iran - Italy - Kazakhstan - Kenya - Kyrgyzstan - Latvia - Lesotho - Liberia - Liechtenstein - Luxembourg - Monaco - Mongolia - Montenegro - Morocco - Mozambique - Namibia - Netherlands (Kingdom of the) - North Macedonia - Poland - Portugal - Republic of Moldova - Romania - Russian Federation - San Marino - Serbia - Sierra Leone - Slovakia - Slovenia - Spain -Sudan - Switzerland - Tajikistan - Ukraine - VietNam