eMadrid Glossary
(Latest revision: October 2026)
This glossary provides definitions of key terms and concepts used in eMadrid.
Active international trademark registration
An international trademark registration that is in force, i.e., an international trademark application that has been registered for the initial 10-year period and/or has been renewed for a further 10 years.
Asset
An international trademark application or registration in the workbench.
Basic mark
The national or regional
trademark application or registration that an international trademark application or registration is based on.
Cancellation
The process of partially
(some goods and services only) or totally
(all goods and services) cancelling an international trademark registration, in all designated Madrid System members.
Certified documents
Documents that verify ownership, scope of protection, pending request for renewal of an international trademark registration, and more. Certified document issued by WIPO include attestations, copies of international trademark registration or renewal certificates, and extracts (detailed or simple).
Change holder details
The process of updating the name and/address, and/or legal nature of the holder of an international trademark registration in the International Register, affecting all designated Madrid System members.
Change in ownership
The process of recording a change in ownership of an international trademark registration in the International Register, either totally (all goods and services in all designated Madrid System members) or partially (some goods and services, in some designated Madrid System members).
Connection
Connections can be set up through a WIPO Account, with other WIPO Account users. Connections do not automatically have access to eMadrid assets (international trademark applications or registrations). Someone who has editor/admin access to an asset can give a connection permissions to view, edit and/or manage access rights to that asset.
Correction
The process of fixing an error in the information recorded in the International Register.
Date of registration
The date on which an international trademark application is registered by WIPO (typically the date on which the Office of origin received the application). Also referred to as "filing date".
Designation
The territories where the applicant or holder seeks, or has, protection through the Madrid System.
Designation status
The status of protection of an international trademark registration in a given Madrid System member. The domestic laws of each designated Madrid System member define the scope of protection of an international trademark registration within its territory.
eMadrid
A digital environment that provides integrated access to all Madrid System online tools and services.
Expiration date
The date when an international trademark registration reaches its 10-year term of protection through the Madrid System (often referred to as "due date for renewal").
Formality examination
The process where WIPO checks that an international trademark application – or a request to manage an international trademark registration – complies with all formal requirements (e.g., sufficient contact details, classification of goods and services, quality of images, payment of fees, etc.).
Grace period
The six-month period following the expiration date of an international trademark registration, during which it can still be renewed.
Holder
The natural person or legal entity in whose name an international trademark registration is recorded in the International Register.
International Register
The official database of Madrid System international trademark registrations, maintained by WIPO.
International trademark application
A formal request to register a trademark in all or any of the Madrid System's members in a single international application.
International trademark registration
An international trademark application that has been recorded in the International Register by WIPO. If the international trademark registration is not refused protection by a designated Madrid System member, then it will have the same effect as a national or regional trademark registered under the domestic law of that Madrid System member. Refusal by one designated Madrid System member does not affect protection in other designated members.
Irregularity notice
A formal notice sent by WIPO to applicants, holders and IP Offices when issues concerning formalities are found in an international trademark application or a request to change an international trademark registration (see "Formality examination"). The irregular notice includes details of the issue(s), instructions on how to fix the issue(s) and a time limit to respond.
Limitation
A process to restrict the list of goods and services in some or all the Madrid System members designated in an international trademark registration.
Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks
The founding treaty of the Madrid System. The Madrid Agreement is no longer in operation.
Madrid e-Filing
A secure, digital service provided by WIPO to interested IP Offices of Madrid System members. A holder of national/regional trademark in a participating Office of origin can file an application for an international trademark registration directly online through Madrid e-Filing; the Office can easily process the application. Find out more about Madrid e-Filing
.
Madrid Protocol (Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement)
The governing treaty of the Madrid System. (Access all Madrid System legal textsAccess all Madrid System legal texts
.)
.)
Madrid System
An abbreviation for the system for the international registration of trademarks. It was originally established by the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks and is now exclusively governed by the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement. (See "Madrid Protocol".)
Madrid System member
A state, intergovernmental organization (such as the European Union (EU) or the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI)), or territory where an applicant seeks protection of their trademark, or a holder has secured – or subsequently seeks – protection in an international trademark registration.
Nice class
A Nice class refers to one of the categories of goods and services in the Nice Classification. Classes define the categories of goods and service for which trademark protection is requested. (See “Nice Classification.”)
Nice Classification
An international classification used to categorize goods and services when applying to register marks. The goods and services are divided into 45 classes – 34 for goods and 11 for services. Find out more about the Nice Classification
.
Office of origin
The IP Office of the Madrid System member where the applicant is entitled to file an international trademark application.
Portfolio
A collection of assets (see "Assets") grouped together by, for example, client, product types, or classes. It is possible to create several portfolios and add multiple international trademark applications/registrations to one or more of them.
Provisional refusal
A provisional refusal is a notification from the IP Office of a designated Madrid System member, provisionally refusing to grant protection (totally or partially) of an international trademark registration, either based on grounds identified during substantive examination or due to opposition by a third party. The holder can respond to the provisional refusal, and provide arguments or evidence to overcome the reasons for refusal, in accordance with the domestic laws of that Madrid System member.
Renewal
The process of maintaining (keeping in force) an international trademark registration. Once recorded, an international trademark registration is valid for 10 years and can be renewed every ten years upon payment of the required fees. International trademark registrations must be renewed to remain active.
Renunciation
The procedure to abandon the effects of an international trademark registration for all goods and services in respect of one or some of the designated Madrid System members.
Representative
A person or company appointed to represent the applicant of an international trademark application or the holder of an international trademark registration. A representative can sign communications and perform all other procedural steps before WIPO on behalf of the applicant or holder.
Subsequent designation
A procedure to expand the geographical scope of an international trademark registration to additional Madrid System members, or to include additional goods and services for one or more designated member(s), provided that those goods and services are already covered by the international trademark registration.
Trademark
A sign used to distinguish the goods or services of one enterprise from those of others. A trademark may consist of words and combinations of words (for instance, names or slogans), logos, figures and images, letters, numbers, sounds, smells or moving images, or a combination of these. The registration of trademarks is governed by the legislation and procedures of national and regional IP offices and WIPO. Trademark rights are limited to the jurisdiction of the IP office that registers the trademark. Trademarks can be registered by filing an application at the relevant national or regional IP Office(s), or by filing an international trademark application through the Madrid System. (Find out more about trademarks
.)
Vienna Classification
An international classification used to classify the figurative elements of a mark. Find out more about the Vienna Classification
.
Watchlist
A tool that allows users to monitor international trademark registrations, and receive alerts whenever they are updated or modified.
WIPO Account
An account used to securely access WIPO’s online services.
WIPO Gazette
The official publication of the Madrid System – published online weekly – containing information regarding new international trademark registrations, renewals, subsequent designations and modifications affecting existing international trademark registrations.
WIPO reference number
A 9 or 10-digit number used to identify documents related to an international trademark application or registration, such as the application itself, requests for changes, and decisions from IP Offices. This number is included in acknowledgement emails, irregularity notices, and other online requests/transactions related to international trademark applications or registrations.
WIPO Wallet
more about a WIPO Wallet .
more about a WIPO Wallet .
A financial account, managed in Swiss francs, that simplifies the payment process for customers who regularly carry out transactions with WIPO. Find out
Workbench
A personalized workspace where applicants, holders, representatives and connections can access and manage international trademark applications and registrations. The workbench is accessed using a WIPO Account (see "WIPO Account")
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