About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight

Search Media Center

70 search results

Huawei, Samsung and Qualcomm are Top Users of WIPO’s International Patent System; India, Türkiye and Republic of Korea are Standouts Amid Softening Global Demand


China-based Huawei Technologies, Samsung Electronics of the Republic of Korea and the U.S.’s Qualcomm were the world’s top users in 2023 of WIPO’s international patent system and innovators in India increased their patent filing activity by nearly 50%, even as demand for international registrations of intellectual property (IP) via WIPO softened slightly.

WIPO Launches Online Dashboard to Monitor Operations


The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) today unveiled a new online dashboard that allows member state representatives and other stakeholders to monitor the Organization's operations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

China Tops Patent, Trademark, Design Filings in 2016


Worldwide filings for patents, trademarks and industrial designs reached record heights in 2016 amid soaring demand in China, which received more patent applications than the combined total for the United States of America, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the European Patent Office.

Telecoms Firms Lead WIPO International Patent Filings


Three telecoms giants from China and the United States led international patent filing activity via WIPO in 2014, a fifth consecutive record-breaking year amid overall growth in the Organization’s global intellectual property services.

WIPO Launches Unique Image-Based Search for Trademarks, Other Brand Information


The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has unveiled a one-of-a-kind image-search function for its Global Brand Database, adding a new feature that allows users to upload an image to search for visually similar trademark and other brand-information records from among the millions of images in the collection.

US and China Drive International Patent Filing Growth in Record-Setting Year


The United States of America and China drove record-level patent-filing activity via WIPO in 2013 as the number of annual international patent applications surpassed the 200,000 mark for the first time. International trademark and industrial-design filings also achieved new record-breaking levels.

Global Patent Filings See Fastest Growth in 18 Years


A new WIPO report shows that in 2012 global patent filings increased at its strongest rate in nearly two decades as industrial-design registration notched its best-ever rate of growth. Intellectual property (IP) filings have sharply rebounded since a 2009 decline at the height of the financial crisis.

Tunisia Joins the International Trademark System


Tunisia’s Minister of Industry Mehdi Jomâa and WIPO Director General Francis Gurry today hailed the entry into force of the Madrid Protocol in Tunisia, while reviewing bilateral cooperation and discussing WIPO’s future technical assistance to Tunisia.

India Joins the International Trademark System


India’s Minster for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma today deposited his country’s instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks at WIPO, bringing the total number of members of the international trademark system to 90. The treaty will enter into force with respect to India on July 8, 2013. The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (Madrid system) offers trademark owners a cost effective, user friendly and streamlined means of protecting and managing their trademark portfolio internationally.

WIPO’s Global Brand Database Tops the 10 Million Mark


The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced today a major expansion of its public database of trademark and brand information. The newest addition of six national collections of trademark records – including the entire United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) collection – takes the Global Brand Database from 2.2 to 10.9 million records, making it the world’s largest free, public trademark search facility.

Global IP Filings Continue to Grow, China Tops Global Patent Filings


A new WIPO report shows that while the global economy continued to underperform, intellectual property (IP) filings worldwide kept growing strongly in 2011. It also finds that China’s patent office became the largest in the world, as measured by the number of patent applications received. Before 2011, China already accounted for most filings of utility models (UMs), trademarks and industrial designs.

Mexico Joins the International Trademark System


Mexico’s Secretary of Economy Bruno Ferrari deposited his country’s instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks with WIPO Director General Francis Gurry on November 19, 2012, bringing the total number of members of the international trademark system to 89. The treaty will enter into force with respect to Mexico on February 19, 2013. The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (Madrid system) offers trademark owners a cost effective, user friendly and streamlined means of protecting and managing their trademark portfolio internationally.

Colombia Joins the International Trademark System


Colombia became the 87th member of the international trademark system following the deposit of its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks by Vice President Angelino Garzón with WIPO Director General Francis Gurry on May 29, 2012. The treaty will enter into force with respect to Colombia, on August 29, 2012. The Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (Madrid system) offers trademark owners a cost effective, user friendly and streamlined means of protecting and managing their trademark portfolio internationally.

Record International Trademark Filings in 2011


2011 saw the highest number of international trademark applications ever filed under WIPO’s Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks ("Madrid system") with 42,270 applications, or a 6.5 % increase compared to 2010. Applications from the member states of the European Union (EU) accounted for more than half (57.4%) of all international trademark applications, and China remained the most designated country for trademark protection.

International Trademark Filings Recover in 2010


International trademark activity recovered in 2010 with WIPO receiving 39,687 applications under the 85-member Madrid system for the international registration of trademarks (“the Madrid system”), representing a 12.8% rate of growth. The largest growth was registered from the Republic of Korea (+42.2%), China (+42%), Italy (+38.7%), United States of America (+29.6%), European Union (+26.9%) and Japan (+20.2%).

WIPO Launches New On-line Tool to Facilitate Brand Searches


A new on-line tool launched by WIPO on March 4, 2011, will make it easier to search over 640,000 records relating to internationally protected trademarks, appellations of origin and armorial bearings, flags and other state emblems as well as the names, abbreviations and emblems of intergovernmental organizations. The Global Brand Database allows free of charge, simultaneous brand-related searches across multiple collections.

WIPO Launches On-line Tool to Assist in Filing International Trademark Applications


WIPO launched on December 20, 2010 an on-line tool - the Madrid System Goods & Services Manager (G&S Manager) - that will help trademark applicants in compiling the list of goods and services that must be submitted when filing an international application under the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks.

SCT Advances on Industrial Design Law and Practice


WIPO’s Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT) met from November 1 to 4, 2010 and made progress on work relating to industrial design law and practice, in addition to matters relating to the Internet and trademarks.

Member States Address Non-Traditional Marks, Advance Work on Industrial Designs


WIPO’s Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT) met from June 30 to July 2, 2010 to address industrial design law issues, the protection of state names against registration or use as trademarks, grounds of refusal for trademark registration and collective and certification marks.

Israel joins the International Trademark System


Israel joined the international trademark system following the deposit of its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks with WIPO Director General Francis Gurry this week. The Madrid System, which will become operational in Israel on September 1, 2010, offers trademark owners a cost-effective, user-friendly and streamlined means of protecting and managing their trademark portfolio internationally.

Global Financial Crisis Hits International Trademark Filings in 2009


International trademark filings under WIPO’s Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks (“the Madrid system”) dropped by 16% in 2009 as a result of the global economic downturn, though increases were observed among some major users of the system, notably the European Union (EU) (3.1%) and Japan (2.7%), as well as in the Republic of Korea (ROK) (+33.9%), Singapore (+20.5%), Croatia (+17.5%) and Hungary (+14.5%).

SCT Examines Trademark and Design Law and Practice


WIPO’s Standing Committee on Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT), meeting from June 22 to 26, 2009, examined areas of possible convergence in industrial design law and practice, as well as questions relating to grounds for refusal of all types of marks and technical and procedural aspects of the registration of certification and collective marks.

International Trademark Registrations Top One Million


The number of international trademark registrations topped the one million mark when Austrian “eco” company Grüne Erde, which specializes in natural wood, textile and cosmetic products, registered its mark this month under the WIPO-administered Madrid system for the international registration of marks.

New Record for International Trademark Registrations in 2008 but Signs of Slowdown at Year End


International trademark activity remained robust overall in 2008 with WIPO receiving a record 42,075 applications under the 84-member Madrid system for the international registration of trademarks (“the Madrid system”), representing a 5.3% rate of growth. Filing activity was stronger in the first six months of the year (+6.9% compared to the same period in 2007) than in the second half of 2008 (+3.9%) mirroring a slowdown in global economic conditions.

Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks to Enter into Force in 2009


A new international treaty setting standards for trademark registration procedures will become effective in 2009 following its ratification by Australia on December 16, 2008. This is the tenth ratification of the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (“the Singapore Treaty”) and will allow the treaty to enter into force on March 16. 2009.

SCT addresses Non-Traditional Marks, Trademark Opposition Procedures and Industrial Designs


WIPO’s Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT) concluded on December 5, 2008 after endorsing agreement on areas of convergence on “non-traditional marks” - such as holograms and audio marks - trademark opposition procedures, consideration of key issues relating to industrial designs, and new areas of work.

USA Ratifies the Singapore Treaty


The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Mr. Francis Gurry, welcomed the ratification by the United States of America (USA) on October 1, 2008 of the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, an international treaty on trademarks that streamlines and modernizes certain trademark office procedures.

SCT Examines Non-Traditional Marks, Trademark Opposition Procedures and Industrial Designs


Non-traditional marks, such as holograms and scent marks, trademark opposition procedures, and questions relating to the registration of industrial designs topped the agenda of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT) (19th session), which met from July 21 to 25, 2008. The meeting, attended by 82 member states, 4 intergovernmental organizations and 11 non-governmental organizations, focused on exploring ways to establish greater clarity on issues relating to the registration of trademarks and industrial designs.

Record Number of International Trademark Filings in 2007


A record 39,945 international trademark applications were received in 2007 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under the Madrid system for the international registration of trademarks, representing a 9.5% increase on figures for 2006. Applicants from Germany, for the 15th consecutive year, led the list of top filers, followed by users in France, the United States of America (USA) and the European Community (EC). China remained the most designated country in international trademark applications reflecting increasing levels of trading activity by foreign companies in China.

SCT to Focus Work on Non-Traditional Types of Marks, Trademark Opposition Procedures and Industrial Designs


New types of marks, such as holograms and scent marks, trademark opposition procedures, and questions relating to the registration of industrial designs topped the agenda of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT). The 18th session of the SCT, which met from November 12 to 16, 2007, was attended by 74 member states, 3 intergovernmental organizations and 11 non—governmental organizations, and focused on key issues that aim to establish more clarity for the international protection of trademarks and industrial designs.

Singapore is First to Ratify Key International Trademark Treaty


Singapore became the first state to ratify a new international treaty on trademarks, concluded less than one year ago under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and which bears the country’s name in recognition of it having hosted the final round of negotiations that led to the Treaty’s adoption.

Cybersquatting Remains on the Rise with further Risk to Trademarks from New Registration Practices


The number of cybersquatting disputes filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2006 increased by 25% as compared to 2005. In a related development, the evolution of the domain name registration system is causing growing concern for trademark owners, in particular some of the effects of the use of computer software to automatically register expired domain names and their 'parking' on pay-per-click portal sites, the option to register names free-of-charge for a five-day 'tasting' period, the proliferation of new registrars, and the establishment of new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs).

Minister of Cameroon Signs Key Trademark Law Treaty in Meeting with WIPO Director General


The Minister for Industry, Mines and Technological Development of Cameroon, H.E. Mr. Charles Salé, signed on February 27, 2007, the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks in the context of talks with the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, on strengthening bilateral relations between WIPO and Cameroon and reinforcing the intellectual property infrastructure in the country.

WIPO Registers 900,000th Mark Under the International Trademark System


The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) registered this week the 900,000th mark under the Madrid system for the international registration of trademarks, a user-friendly and cost-effective system for the international registration of marks. At the current rate of growth, it is anticipated that the one millionth mark under the Madrid system will be reached in 2009. The 900,000 milestone was a trademark registered by a Chinese company seeking protection in ten countries on four continents.

WIPO Launches On-Line Service for Renewal of International Trademarks


The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) launched a new service this week that will enable trademark owners to renew their international trademark registrations on-line, making this a more cost-effective and efficient procedure. The new "e-renewal" service which was launched on April 3, 2006, is a simple way of renewing international trademark registrations up to six months before the date on which the payment of the renewal fee is due. The new service is available from WIPO's website at http://www.wipo.int/e-marks.

Negotiators Adopt Singapore Treaty to Facilitate International Trademark Registration


A new international treaty on trademarks, to be known as the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks in recognition of the country that hosted the final round of negotiations, was adopted on March 28, 2006 by member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The new treaty concludes efforts by WIPO's member states to update the 1994 Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) and bring it in line with the technological developments of the past decade.

WIPO Director General Concludes Official Visit to Singapore


The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, wrapped up on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 a two-day official visit to Singapore under the United Nations Distinguished Visitors Programme, a prestigious Singapore programme for outstanding individuals linked to the United Nations system. During his visit he met with Singapore leaders and opened Asia's first diplomatic conference in the field of intellectual property (IP). The visit resulted in a further strengthening of the partnership between WIPO and the Government of Singapore.

Dr. Idris Opens Diplomatic Conference to Revise Key Trademark Treaty


The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, in the presence of Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, Professor S. Jayakumar, opened on Monday evening, March 13, 2006, a diplomatic conference on intellectual property (IP) for a new treaty in the field of trademarks. It is the first time that a diplomatic conference organized by WIPO is held in Asia. On Tuesday, March 14, 2006, Dr. Idris attended the first plenary session, which resulted in the election of Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, as President of the Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of a Revised Trademark Law Treaty.

Top Officials to Open Diplomatic Conference to Revise Key Trademark Treaty in Singapore


A major conference to revise a key international treaty in the field of trademarks, convened by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), opens today in Singapore in the presence of top officials. The three-week conference will be formally launched by WIPO Director General, Dr. Kamil Idris, in the presence of Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law, Professor S. Jayakumar. High-ranking diplomatic delegations from the 183 WIPO member states, many led by senior officials, as well as observer delegations representing the branded goods industry and the trademark profession, will be attending the conference.

Singapore to Host Diplomatic Conference on Revised Trademark Law Treaty


A major conference to revise a key international treaty in the field of trademarks will be convened by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Singapore from March 13 to 31, 2006. The Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of a Revised Trademark Law Treaty (TLT), hosted by the Government of Singapore, is expected to conclude with the adoption of a new international treaty of particular significance for brand-owners.

Record Number of International Trademark Applications in 2005 with Germany Leading for 13th Consecutive Year


A record 33,565 international trademark applications were received in 2005 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) under the Madrid system for the international registration of trademarks. This represents a 13.9% increase on figures for 2004. Germany, for the 13th consecutive year, led the list of top filers. Applications from developing countries increased by 30.6% over 2004, with China topping the list of users. China also unseated Switzerland as the most designated country in trademark applications. The "Madrid system" is a user-friendly and cost-effective service for the international registration of marks.

SCT to Take on New Work on Trademarks and Industrial Designs


Member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have identified a number of topics relating to trademarks and industrial designs for future consideration. This came at a meeting of WIPO's Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT). The 15th session of the SCT, which met from November 28 to December 2, 2005, was attended by 79 member states, one observer delegation, 4 intergovernmental organizations and 11 non-governmental organizations.

WIPO Begins on-Line Publication of the WIPO Gazette of International Marks


The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) began this month publishing an on-line edition of the WIPO Gazette of International Marks, the official publication of the Madrid System for the International Registration of Trademarks. The Madrid System is a user-friendly and cost-effective service offered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) which facilitates the process of securing trademark protection in multiple countries. The on-line version of the Gazette is available on a weekly basis and is free-of-charge. The Gazette is also available on paper and on CD-ROM, on a subscription basis.

Member States Agree Basic Text for Revised TLT, Consider Singapore Offer to Host Diplomatic Conference


Efforts to revise a key international treaty in the field of trademarks made significant headway as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT) agreed on a text to be proposed as a basis for negotiations at the Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of the Revised Trademark Law Treaty (TLT), which will be convened in March 2006. Also, at a two-day session of the Preparatory Meeting for the Diplomatic Conference, Singapore made an official offer to host the diplomatic conference on the revision of the TLT, which is meant to revise the existing Trademark Law Treaty bringing it in line with the technological advances of the past decade. The SCT, which met from April 18 to 22, 2005, was attended by 79 member states, 3 intergovernmental organizations and 11 non-governmental organizations. The Preparatory meeting met on April 25 & 26, 2005.

Double Digit Growth Marks Record Year for International Trademark System


Use of the international trademark registration system reached a record level in 2004 with the receipt of 29,459 international trademark applications representing a 23.5% increase on figures for 2003. The international trademark registration system, known as the Madrid system, is a user-friendly and cost-effective service offered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) which facilitates the process of securing trademark protection in multiple countries.

Negotiations for Revision of Trademark Law Treaty Gather Pace


Negotiations for the revision of a key international treaty in the field of trademarks gathered pace last week at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva. Delegates attending the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT) from October 25 to 29, 2004, made significant progress in fine-tuning legal texts to revise the existing Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) bringing it in line with the technological advances of the past decade.

WIPO Hosts Conference on Accession of European Community to International Trademark System


An international conference organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trademarks and Designs) (OHIM) and the European Commission to review the interface between the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Trademarks and the Community Trademark System (CTM) took place at WIPO's Geneva headquarters on October 7. 2004. The link between the Madrid Protocol and the CTM, which became operational on October 1, 2004, following the entry into force of the EC's accession to the Madrid Protocol, offers trademark owners maximum flexibility in the process of obtaining international trademark protection.

Key WIPO Committee Recommends Updating Trademark Law Treaty


A key negotiating committee at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has recommended the convening in the first half of 2006 of a Diplomatic Conference that would update the existing Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) to bring it in line with the technological advances of the past decade.

Spanish Becomes Working Language of International Trademark System


As of April 1, 2004, users of the international trademark system can file applications in Spanish, in addition to English and French, thereby removing language as a barrier for more hispanophone countries to join the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Trademarks, which is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Steady Growth in 2003 for International Trademark System


The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) received 23,872 trademark applications in 2003 under a procedure that facilitates the process of seeking trademark protection in multiple countries, known as the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks. This represents a 3% increase over 2002.

Scope of International Trademark Treaty Expands with US Membership


As of November 2, 2003, the process of registering trademarks in multiple countries has been greatly enhanced as an international treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) entered into force in the United States of America (USA). A trademark owner who is a citizen of the USA, or has a domicile or commercial establishment in the USA, and who has an underlying registration or pending application at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), may file an international application with the USPTO which designates one or more of the other 60 countries that are party to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol).

International Trademark System Set To Expand


Companies and individuals seeking to protect their trademarks in multiple countries will be able to file their applications in the Spanish language as of April 1. 2004 following a decision today by member states attending the annual meeting of Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva from September 22 to October 1, 2003. Currently, international trademark applications under the Madrid System for the International Registration of Trademarks are required to be submitted in English or French.

WIPO Publishes Guide to Trademarks for Business


Entrepreneurs and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can now consult a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) publication that explains the basics of trademarks from a business perspective. The guide, entitled "Making a Mark: An Introduction to Trademarks for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises", is intended to enhance the reader's understanding of the strategic value of trademarks in business planning.

WIPO Welcomes Accession by U.S. to Madrid System


The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, has welcomed the accession by the United States of America to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, a pact that greatly facilitates and reduces the costs for the registration of trademarks in multiple countries.