Trademarks are a key element of any successful business marketing strategy as directories them to identify, promote and license their services or goods in the marketplace and in addition to distinguish these from those of their competitors, thereby cementing customer loyalty. A trademark symbolizes the promise of a quality product and in the global and increasingly electronic marketplace, a trademark is truly 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 U . n . (UN) which oversees the task of international registration of trademarks through Madrid System.
Although it is improbable 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 system is administered by the International Bureau of the universe Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva, Exercise. 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 as important 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 accepted designation for international protection because of ever growing economy and trade turns.
WIPO also promotes use of electronic communication for processing of international software applications. In April 2006, WIPO introduced a new online 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 containing information regarding all international marks usually are currently in force in the international trademark register. As from January 1, 2007, the ROMARIN data base was made available, free-of-charge, on the WIPO web web site.
Indian Perspective-
India is also considering and is usually 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 needed file only one application, pay one fee in local currency, and is not needed at least initially, to submit foreign powers of lawyers. Renewals, assignment recorders, changes of name and/or address of a worldwide registration may be affected by filing one document with the International Bureau. Moreover, the payment of single filing fee and preparation of someone application should potentially provide savings in legal service fees.
India has claimed that it would join the Madrid System after making due preparations, including modernisation Transfer of Trademark Rights in India its trademark offices. Investment and action in this direction should be expedited and Indian providers of services and goods enabled to use the system without further delay. It needs to be noted how the Madrid System does not 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 expected to put in their international applications from the IP offices of third countries by setting up minimal operations prescribed for this purpose.