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What is the difference between the Madrid System and WIPO?

Senior Trademark Attorney

WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) is the UN agency that administers international IP systems, including the Madrid System. The Madrid System is one of the systems WIPO administers; it is not the same thing as WIPO itself.

WIPO's mandate is broader than the Madrid System. It administers 26 international treaties covering trademarks, patents, copyrights, geographical indications, and other IP areas. The Madrid System is a system specifically designed for international trademark registration, and it’s operated under WIPO's administration, comprising the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol.

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