Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, IP Facts and Figures (Trademarks; accessed November 21, 2022).
Commentary: The World Intellectual Property Organization’s Madrid System allows firms to receive trademark protection in 128 countries with only one application and set of fees, thereby making it easier to receive international protection for intellectual property. The United States (13,281 applications), Germany (8,793 applications), and China (5,273 applications) are the three countries that used the Madrid System the most last year. The other countries that round out the top-ten users are France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, Italy, Australia, and Turkey. Surprisingly, applications by Chinese firms fell by over 23 percent from 2020 to 2021, and China is the only country in the top ten whose applications decreased. Research and Technology is the industry with the most Madrid System applications, and with 171 applications last year, France’s L’Oreal led all individual companies.
