T&T Joins The Madrid System

From January 12th, 2021, local brand owners in Trinidad and Tobago will be able to begin using the Madrid System to protect their trademarks in 122 territories. It comes after Government, on Monday, deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The Madrid System makes it possible for brand owners to apply for trademark protection in over 100 territories, by filing a single international application with the national or regional IP office of a Madrid System member. WIPO Director General, Daren Tang, says while he is elated Trinidad and Tobago will begin using the Madrid System, he is urging other countries in the region to follow suit. Meanwhile, Controller of Intellectual Property in T&T, Regan Asgarali, believes this will benefit a range of different people locally. Trinidad and Tobago is now the 107th member of the Madrid System, which covers 123 countries.