All amendments adopted by the Madrid Union Assembly regarding various regulations under the Madrid System concerning international trademark registration came into effect 01 February 2023.
Among the relevant changes, new instructions eliminate the current requirement of reproduction, allowing applicants to provide their visual representation not exceeding 20 centimeters in either length or width, with the possibility of submitting a digital file.
Moreover, the amendments will also allow applicants to claim color as a distinctive feature of the mark when the basic application or registration is protected in color, even when a corresponding color claim does not appear in the basic mark, or the basic mark is not in color.
The Madrid system provides a mechanism for obtaining trademark protection in many countries without seeking registration separately in each jurisdiction of interest. These new rules will try to ease the application process for holders and extend the protection of their trademarks.