Reflections on the Indian Accession to the Madrid Protocol

Abstract

Today’s globalized economy has placed much significance on the internationalization and harmonization of trademark laws. The Madrid System for the international registration of trademarks was one such effort created to allow companies to register their trademark in several countries through one application. Though not a party to the original Madrid Agreement, India recently acceded to the Madrid Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning International Registration of Marks. This article traces the evolution of this Madrid System and provides a critique of the Madrid Protocol. Besides analysing the criticisms of the Madrid Agreement, the author also critically analyses the advantages and developments of the Madrid Protocol over the Madrid Agreement.