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Aquino signs Madrid Protocol

Published on 29 May 2012

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Written by RAADEE S. SAUSA
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THE Philippines is now a member of the Protocol Relating to the Madrid

Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid
Protocol) with the deposit of the instrument of accession with the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
President Benigno Aquino 3rd recently signed the instrument of accession
for the protocol.
The Philippines is the first country to accede this year and is the 85th
Contracting Party to the Madrid Protocol.
The Madrid Protocol is a filing system that facilitates the registration of
marks in several countries through a single application filed with the
Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
It simplifies the protection of marks outside the Philippines and reduces the
cost of registration. The major trading partners of the PhilippinesJapan,
United States of America, China, Singapore, South Korea and Germany
are members of the Madrid Protocol.
The Philippine accession to the Madrid Protocol is essential in making the
country globally competitive. By membership in the Madrid Protocol, the
Philippines opens its doors to 84 countries, (which is expected to increase
overtime), of which their economies constitute most of international trade.

Foreign businesses interested in establishing their businesses in the

Philippines will be encouraged by the ease in protecting their marks in the
country. More importantly, accession to the Madrid Protocol will help
Filipino entrepreneurs to protect their brands as they expand into
international markets since financial and administrative costs are
considerably reduced, IPOPHL said.
The Madrid Protocol also eases the cost of doing business for foreign
investors and facilitates exports for Filipino entrepreneurs.
IPOPHL noted that accession by the Philippines to the Madrid Protocol
was endorsed by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Makati Business Club, Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of
Commerce and Industry Inc., American Chamber of Commerce of the
Philippines/Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines, the Philippine
Retail Association and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
Philippines Inc.
The IPOPHL will begin accepting applications filed via the Madrid
Protocol on July 25, 2012.
For more information on Madrid Protocol, contact the IPOPHL 7980114 or 238-6300 ext. 515 or e-mailmadrid@ipophil.gov.ph or log on
to www.ipophil.gov.ph.