The Gambia Joins the Madrid System

The Gambia joined the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks on September 18, 2015 and thus became the 96^th member of the Madrid System. The relevant treaty will enter into force on December 18, 2015.

This accession provides brand owners in the Gambia with potentially faster and cheaper access to international brand protection.

As of December 18, 2015, Gambian brand owners can start using the Madrid System to protect their trademarks in the 112 territories of its 96 members, by filing a single international application in one language and paying one set of fees in one currency.

About the Madrid System

The Madrid System makes it possible for an applicant to apply for a trademark in a large number of countries by filing the international application at a national or regional IP office of a country/region that is party to the System. It streamlines the process of multinational trademark registration by simplifying the process of applying for protection in multiple territories. The System also simplifies the subsequent management of the mark, since it is possible to record further changes or to renew the registration through a single procedural step.