If you want trademark protection in multiple countries, you don’t have to file a separate application with each country’s trademark office. Pakistan joined the Madrid Protocol – an international treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) – on 24th February 2021, and has accepted applications under it since 24th May 2021. This guide explains what that means for Pakistani businesses and foreign applicants alike.
What Is the Madrid Protocol?
The Madrid Protocol lets you file one international trademark application, in one language, paying one fee in a single currency (Swiss Francs), instead of filing separate applications in different languages and currencies across every country where you want protection. It’s part of the broader Madrid System, whose member countries form the Madrid Union. To join the Protocol, a country must first be a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property – Pakistan has been a member since 2004.
Pakistan’s Two Roles Under the Protocol
Since joining, the Trade Marks Registry (TMR) in Karachi handles two distinct functions:
1. Office of Origin (OO) – For Pakistani Applicants Filing Abroad
If you’re a Pakistani trademark holder seeking protection in other Madrid Union countries, TMR acts as your Office of Origin:
- TMR receives your international application and verifies it conforms to the Madrid Protocol’s requirements
- If it meets requirements, TMR certifies and forwards it to WIPO’s International Bureau (IB)
- If WIPO’s IB finds any irregularity, it notifies you (or your representative) and TMR – you’re required to correct it, and TMR responds to WIPO accordingly
- Your international registration stays dependent on your original Pakistani registration or application for 5 years (known as “central attack”) – if your basic Pakistani mark ceases to exist within that window, TMR notifies WIPO and your international registration is affected
2. Office of Designated Contracting Party (CP) – For Foreign Applicants Seeking Protection in Pakistan
If a foreign trademark holder designates Pakistan in their international application, TMR acts as the receiving office:
- WIPO’s IB notifies TMR of the international registration designating Pakistan
- TMR records and examines it under Pakistan’s own Trade Marks Ordinance and Rules
- If there’s an examination objection or a third-party opposition after publication in the Trademarks Journal, TMR communicates a provisional refusal to WIPO’s IB
- After completing its procedures, TMR either withdraws the provisional refusal or confirms it (fully or partly), then notifies WIPO of the outcome and grants protection in Pakistan accordingly
- TMR also handles post-registration matters like renewals and changes as WIPO notifies them
Key Terms and Timelines
- Validity: An international registration lasts 10 years from its registration date and can be renewed indefinitely for further 10-year periods
- Designated country response window: Countries you’ve designated can accept or refuse your mark within 12 or 18 months under their own national laws – otherwise, it’s considered registered
- Central attack period: 5 years – your international registration remains tied to your original national application/registration during this window
- Subsequent changes: Changes to your name, address, ownership, or the list of goods/services can be recorded through a single procedure with WIPO’s International Bureau, rather than separately in each designated country
FAQ
Do I need a Pakistani trademark registration before I can file internationally through Pakistan?
Yes – the Madrid Protocol requires a “basic” application or registration in your Office of Origin (Pakistan, in this case) before you can file an international application based on it.
What happens if my Pakistani trademark is cancelled after I’ve filed internationally?
If it happens within the first 5 years from your international registration date (central attack), your international registration can be affected too – TMR is required to notify WIPO if your basic Pakistani registration ceases to exist during this period.
Can a foreign company get trademark protection in Pakistan through the Madrid Protocol?
Yes – since 24th May 2021, Pakistan accepts international registrations that designate it as a Contracting Party, and TMR examines these under Pakistan’s own Trade Marks Ordinance just like a direct national application.
What currency and language is used for Madrid Protocol filings?
Fees are paid in Swiss Francs, and applications can be filed in English, French, or Spanish – the three official languages of the Madrid Protocol.
For a standard national trademark application instead, see our guide to registering a trademark in Pakistan.
Expanding your brand internationally? Our trademark registration service can also help you establish the underlying Pakistani registration first. For full details on international filing procedures, see the WIPO Madrid System page.
