The U.S. has been a party to the Madrid System, which allows international registration of marks with a single application in the U.S. PTO, since November 2, 2003. The Madrid System is governed by the Madrid Protocol (1891) and WIPO.
As a prerequisite to obtaining an international registration in the U.S. PTO under the Madrid System, the mark must be pending or registered in the U.S. PTO. Subsequently, international registration can be made, prosecuted and approved in the U.S. PTO. Once the mark is internationally registered, additional countries can be added as they become parties to the Madrid System, or the owner of the mark starts using the mark in new countries which are already members. The international registration lasts for 10 years, and can be renewed for additional 10 year periods by paying a single fee to the U.S. PTO.
Note: Mexico and Canada are not members of The Madrid System.
The current members are:
Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bhutan
Bulgaria
China
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Iran (Islamic
Republic of)
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Kenya
Krygyzstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Monaco
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
Serbia and Montenegro
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
The former Yugoslav
Republic of
Macedonia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
United Kingdom
U.S. of America
Zambia