The new version of the Guide to the Madrid System is available on the Madrid System website (https://www.wipo.int/madrid/fr/) as of May 31, 2022, which is a completely revised version of the previous Guide.

The purpose of the new Guide is to provide information and practical advice to brand owners wishing to protect their trademarks outside of their home market, as well as to inform Intellectual Property Offices that are members of the Madrid System, about their roles and responsibilities under this system.

The Guide is divided into four Chapters:

• Chapter I describes the Madrid System and contains useful information for all its users, i.e. applicants, holders of international registrations, representatives and Officials of the IP Offices of its members. This Chapter mentions the main advantages of the Madrid System and information on methods of communications, the calculation of time limits and the language regime.
• Chapter II contains practical information for applicants and holders on all aspects of the Madrid System, for the entire life cycle of an international registration. It guides them in the application filing procedure, in various procedures and processes that may occur during the life cycle of an international registration, such as subsequent designation, change of holder, change of contact details of the holder and renewal. This Chapter also provides information on the various communications that the offices of the designated Contracting Parties may send.
• Chapter III provides practical information for officials of the IP Offices of the Madrid System members. The Chapter relates to the two roles of an IP Office, namely, the Office of origin for international applications and the Office of the designated member, and includes information on the registration of international applications, the issuance of various decisions on the grant of protection.
• Chapter IV contains useful information to countries and intergovernmental organizations on how to prepare to become a member of the Madrid System as well as on what kind of assistance that WIPO may offer to potential new members.

The Guide is currently available in PDF format (https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo-pub-455-2022-en-guide-to-the-international-registration-of-marks-under-the-madrid-protocol.pdf) in English, but it will be translated into French, Arabic, Chinese, Chinese, Spanish and Russian languages.