International Trademark Registration
The rights arising from trademark registration provide protection only in the country of registration. If you want your trademark to be protected abroad, your trademark must be registered in the countries where you seek protection.
Trademark registration systems abroad;
Country Application
It is an application made directly to the official authority of the relevant country through an attorney in the country where registration is contemplated.
WIPO – Madrid Protocol
-It is run by WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) headquartered in Switzerland.
-Turkey can apply as 104 countries + EUTM + OAPI.
-Provides protection for 10 years after which renewal is required.
EUTM -European Union
-It is run by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Spain.
-Covers EU member states (28 countries in total, Turkey is not included in this system as it is not a member of the EU).
-Trademark registration in all EU member states with one application
-Approximately 5 – 6 months for registration and no review system for similar brands
-Protection and renewal periods of 10 years
OAPI – African Union
-It is run by OAPI in Cameroon.
-Provides the possibility of trademark registration in all member countries (17 African countries) with one application. It is not possible to file a national application for these countries.
-Registration time is approximately 2 years
-Protection and renewal periods of 10 years
ARIPO – African Regional Intellectual Property Organization
-It is a registration system in which 10 African countries are members within the scope of trademark applications.
-Botswana, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Sao Tome & Principe, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe
***Since the process of harmonizing the laws of member countries with the ARIPO system is ongoing, we do not recommend using this system. We recommend that right holders who have commercial relations with these countries apply for national or WIPO registration.
