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Madrid Protocol international trade marks

India joined the Madrid Protocol in 2013, letting Indian trademark applicants seek registration across multiple member countries through a single international application.

Reviewed by Ravi SisodiaLast reviewed 29 August 2026Treaty interfaceCurrent source control

Finin2min Summary — in 2 Minutes

India joined the Madrid Protocol in 2013, letting Indian trademark applicants seek registration across multiple member countries through a single international application.

Official source and legal ownership

Legal ownerWIPO / Government of India / IP Office
Source statusOfficially sourced
Review date2026-08-29
Primary sourceMadrid Protocol international trade marks

What this covers

The Madrid Protocol lets a trademark owner file a single international application through their home country's trademark office (the Office of Origin), designating any number of other member countries where they want protection, rather than filing separate national applications in each country.

How India's accession works

India acceded to the Madrid Protocol through the Trade Marks (Amendment) Act, 2010, which inserted the implementing chapter into the Trade Marks Act, 1999 - an Indian trademark owner can use the Indian Trade Marks Registry as its Office of Origin to seek international registration, and a foreign applicant can similarly designate India for protection through their own home Madrid application.

Why it matters

An international registration designating India still faces substantive examination by the Indian Trade Marks Registry under Indian law (including potential refusal or opposition) - Madrid Protocol filing streamlines the application process but does not guarantee registration will actually be granted in India or any other designated country.

Source and review trail

Use the current official instrument, portal or regulator publication before acting. This panel separates the category authority from page-specific references.

Official starting point
ipindia.gov.in