17 November 2006

Trade mark no. 900,000

The international registration system for trade marks is a growing success.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has registered trade mark no. 900,000 under the Madrid system for the international registration of trade marks.

1,000,000 in 2009

At the current rate of growth, WIPO anticipates that the trade mark no. 1,000,000 under the Madrid system will be reached in 2009.

Not surprisingly, it was a Chinese company seeking protection in ten countries on four continents that registered trade mark no. 900,000.

China, which became a member of the Madrid system in 1989, is now the eighth largest user of the system. China is also the most designated country in international trade mark applications, with more than 40% of the applications designating China.

International protection

By the end of September 2006, about 465,000 international trade mark registrations were in force in the international register. Those international registrations represent the equivalent of some 5.1 million national registrations, in view of the fact that, on average, international registrations extend their effects to 11 to 12 designated countries.