How can I register a trademark internationally?

Trademark is the asset of individuals, and organizations which is protected independently in each nation therefore a trademark being registered in a country would still be a subject of violation in another country because it is not yet registered.

Trademark in Vietnam

Currently based on a trademark patent or a national trademark application, by filing an international application, the trademark owner shall acquire the right of trademark registration in some or all members of the Madrid system.

Trademarks are intangible assets, and can be bought, sold or licensed, making your company more valuable. However, you have to analyze your company to determine the value in seeking trademark protection in foreign countries. An experienced intellectual property attorney is the best person to speak to regarding this decision. There is a mechanism for obtaining a trademark in other countries: the Madrid Protocol.

Conditions of international registration under Madrid System

-People who have been granted the Certificate of Trademark Registration have the right to register their respective international trademarks under the Madrid Agreement;

-People who have already filed an application for registration of a trademark and who have been granted a certificate of registration of a trademark shall have the right to make an international registration of the mark corresponding to the Madrid Protocol.

To sum it up, you should first file for a trademark in your home country. From there, your country will forward it to WIPO. After WIPO examines it, and hopefully approve it, it will send you a certificate of your international registration and notify the IP Offices in all the territories where you seek trademark protection in. The last step is for those territories to make a decision within the time limit (12 or 18 months) in accordance with their own rules. WIPO will record the decisions of the IP Offices in the International Register and notify you when they are made. If a particular Office refuses to grant protection, you can contest a refusal decision directly before it. Conversely, if an IP Office accepts to protect your mark, it will issue a statement of grant of protection.