Keeping Up with the Madrid System: New Members, New Opportunities
Published 28 August 2026
WIPO’s Madrid System continues to evolve, and 2026 has already brought some significant developments for businesses with international trade mark portfolios:
Just last month, Saudi Arabia deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol, with the accession due to take effect on 8 October 2026, bringing another significant market in the Middle East into the system. This change will allow current and future owners of WIPO International Trade Mark Registrations to use the Madrid System to designate Saudi Arabia in their international registrations.
I believe every trade marks practitioner or business owner that has previously experienced filing trade mark applications in Saudi Arabia will be relieved to hear the above news. Filing applications directly in Saudi Arabia could be quite burdensome, due to local IP Office procedures which require Australian applicants to submit an original, notarised and apostilled power of attorney at the time of filing the application, a certified copy of any priority document within six months from the date of filing, and supply a certified Arabic translations of trade marks which are not in Arabic. The time and costs that have so far been associated with filing procedures in Saudi Arabia may be circumvented from 8 October 2026 onwards by designating trade mark protection in Saudi Arabia via the Madrid Protocol instead.
Another, more subtle expansion of the Madrid System was announced at the beginning of this month: since 1 August 2026, Jersey is now considered an independent designation under the Madrid System. Designating the United Kingdom in an international trade mark application no longer covers Jersey automatically. Applicants must explicitly select Jersey as a separate designation to secure local protection.
Lastly, earlier this year, WIPO announced the addition of Grenada to the members of the Madrid System.
The Future of International Trade Mark Protection
The Madrid System has now accrued 117 member states covering 133 countries, representing more than 80% of global trade. WIPO continues to work with prospective members on the legislative, operational, technological and institutional changes needed for accession. So, what will the future bring for international trade mark owners? Not only may new jurisdictions continue to be added to the Madrid Protocol, but existing designations can also change in scope or cost from time to time, and procedural requirements continue to develop. The Madrid System may be approaching 120 members, but its evolution certainly is not finished.
It is difficult to predict exactly which countries will join next. WIPO does not publish a definitive list of future accessions. However, the direction of travel is clear: WIPO intends to continue expanding f the geographical reach of its Madrid System, striving for ongoing modernisation of the system’s operation. Progressive digitalisation, procedural changes and adjustments to national requirements will continue to affect how trade mark practitioners manage international portfolios.
Practical Considerations for Australian Businesses
When a new country joins the Madrid System, it can create an additional opportunity for businesses that already hold international registrations via WIPO. For example, from October, an Australian trade mark owner with an existing international registration can opt to subsequently designate Saudi Arabia, rather than having to file a separate national application. As there will be less administrative burdens to encounter via the Madrid Protocol, this will likely represent substantial time and costs savings.
The recent updates to the Madrid System outlined above are a useful reminder that an international trade mark portfolio should not be treated as a “set and forget” exercise. As a business expands into new markets, it is worth periodically reviewing existing international registrations and asking:
- Have we entered, or are we planning to enter, any countries that have recently joined the Madrid System?
- Should we make a subsequent designation to extend an existing international registration?
- Are there existing designations that no longer reflect our commercial activities?
- Have changes to individual fees or national requirements impacted the cost or strategy for particular designations?
Most importantly, securing an international registration via the Madrid System should not be viewed as the end of a business owner’s international trade marking process. Ongoing consideration of not only the scope of business but also any procedural changes may prove essential to maintaining the value of an international trade mark portfolio.
As recently outlined by my colleague Geraldine Rimmer in her article discussing SpaceX’s Trade Mark Portfolio, commercially-minded international trade mark portfolios often prove incredibly valuable to growing Australian businesses, supporting growth, investment and long-term competitive advantage.
If you would like customised guidance and advice on your business’s local or international trade mark strategy, please contact us. The trade mark team at MBIP would be delighted to assist.
