January 15, 2020
We start this new year with changes to the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks and the Protocol Relating to that Agreement (Common Regulations).
As of February 1, 2020, they become the Regulations under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Regulations under the Protocol). One specific change to mention is the amended Rule 30 of the Regulations under the Protocol, which simplifies renewal of international registrations.
Full details of the amendments to the Regulations 
.
New Regulations under the Protocol and consequential amendments to the Administrative Instructions and the Schedule of Fees
The Common Regulations are renamed the Regulations under the Protocol, which indicate that the Protocol is the sole treaty governing international applications and registrations under the Madrid System.
As a result, there are consequential amendments to the Administrative Instructions and to the Schedule of Fees.
For full details of the amendments to the Regulations under the Protocol, the Administrative Instructions and the Schedule of Fees, please refer to Information Notice No.1/2020 .
Simplified renewal of international registrations
International registrations are valid for ten years and can be renewed directly with WIPO. Amendments to Rule 30 of the Regulations under the Protocol simplify renewals considerably.
For Contracting Parties that have declared for an individual fee per class, the renewal fee will be calculated taking into account only the number of classes for which protection has been granted.
The simplification means that holders of international registrations who have been granted partial protection and are appealing such decision will no longer be required to pay individual fees for classes that are not protected upon renewal.
Consequently, item 4 of the renewal form MM11 and the corresponding option in e-Renewal will be removed because they will no longer be required. Item 4 was used to give instructions to renew the international registration for all the goods and services with respect to a Contracting Party where the mark had been only partially protected. The new MM11 form will be available for download as from February 1, 2020.
Where a designated Contracting Party, which has declared for an individual fee per class, informs in a further statement of a change in the goods and services protected, the next renewal fee in respect of that Contracting Party will be calculated in accordance with this further statement.
Last year, we introduced our new and improved Madrid e-Renewal service. The enhanced service, exclusively accessible through a WIPO Account, provides an easier, 100% online experience with benefits including greater clarity and instant tracking of international registration renewals.
Key features
- WIPO Account login: to renew online with better traceability.
- New modern and dynamic look and feel: a far more engaging and intuitive user interface.
- Greater clarity for fewer mistakes: easier selection of Contracting Parties and goods and services. All renewal scenarios are covered
- Instant tracking: a unique WIPO reference number in a confirmation email to check the renewal status quickly and easily in Madrid Monitor
- Online payment: pay your renewal fees with a credit card or Current Account at WIPO.
Questions or comments?
Send us your questions, comments or forms with the Contact Madrid service.
