Today, the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) celebrates 10 years as a party to the Madrid Protocol, helping innovative Kiwi businesses protect their intellectual property in a competitive world.

The Madrid Protocol is a treaty administered by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The protocol sets out an internationally agreed system that allows businesses in member countries to efficiently apply for and manage their trade marks in over 100 participating countries.

Applicants can file one application instead of filing individually in each country and have one set of fees and one global renewal date. 

Since New Zealand joined the Madrid Protocol in 2012, many local businesses have taken advantage of the benefits offered. There have been more than 4,000 applications filed from New Zealand applicants to protect trade marks via the international trade marks registration system. The Madrid Protocol has also made it much simpler for international businesses to protect their brands in New Zealand, with more than 82,000 trade marks being designated

IPONZ’s Rebecca James, Manager of Trade Marks & Geographical Indicators, notes “Being a member of the Madrid Protocol gives New Zealand businesses the ability to use a simplified method for filing in up to 128 countries. It also makes it easier for New Zealand businesses to maintain their trade mark applications and registrations in member countries. We see huge benefits for New Zealand businesses having access to a system like this.”. 

The Madrid Protocol continues to develop and adapt to meet the needs of users and contracting parties, and we look forward to seeing what the next 10 years will bring us.

To learn more about the trade mark process in NZ and how to file under the Madrid Protocol visit the Trade Marks page.