A year ago, Mexico signed the Madrid Protocol giving trade mark owners a simplified mechanism through which they can protect their mark abroad. Administered by WIPO it is said to be the most efficient means of achieving international protection for a registered trade mark.
Before 2012 no Latin American country (apart from Cuba) had acceded and much was speculated (here, here and here). Colombia and Mexico signed just months apart from each other and time flies….Mexico is already celebrating its first birthday with good reports from WIPO ( Mexico’s process of the applications have been of high quality and efficiency).The Mexican Institute of Intellectual Property (IMPI) reports that after Mexico’s entry, 54 applications from companies and individuals with business activities in Mexico have submitted their trade mark through the Madrid Protocol. These businesses seek protection mainly in the United States, the European Union and China. In addition, abroad applications notifying Mexico as Designated Office have reached 5,476 of which 1,907 has been granted. Countries that have designated Mexico the most are: the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and China.
IMPI emphasises that the Protocol encourages foreign investment providing legal certainty and giving the opportunity to international companies to enter the domestic market providing an easy accessible mechanism for registration of their marks in our country.
Source IMPI.
