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What's the difference between registering a trademark through USPTO and WIPO?

Founder & Trademark Attorney

The main difference is that A USPTO registration covers the US only, while a WIPO international registration through the Madrid System allows a single application to designate multiple member countries simultaneously, with the US as only one of the possible designations.

If your goal is primarily US protection, you should file directly with the USPTO. It’s the cheaper and simpler route. However, if you are registering in multiple countries, including the US, filing through WIPO, and designating the US is possible.

Note that applications are still examined on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis, with each country applying its own rules. That’s why if you’re aiming for five or fewer jurisdictions (let’s say the US, UK, EU, AU, and CA), it’s recommended that you file via multiple local applications regardless.

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