Dubai Chamber discusses benefits of Madrid System during roundtable

The seminar that started on Sunday concluded on Monday.

Moderated by Nizar Sardast, Adviser to the Chamber, and Mubarak Rahmatallah, WIPO Consultant in Geneva, the roundtable comes as part of Dubai Chamber's mission of supporting and protecting the interests of the business community. The seminar, being attended by government officials, trademark owners, consultants and members of the business community, apprises the gathering with the rights of trademark owners and the universal access to such a mechanism under the Madrid System.

Mubarak gave a detailed explanation about the Madrid System since its inception and names of some of the most popular trademark owners and specialists dealing in disputes arising under the jurisdiction of the system. He informed that the Madrid System for International Registration of Marks was established in 1891 in accordance with the 1891 Madrid Agreement, and how the System is managed by the International Bureau of WIPO, based in Geneva, Switzerland, with a membership of more than 80 countries.

Mubarak said that WIPO, under the Madrid System, grants the trademark owner the opportunity to protect his trademark in several countries through the filing of one application to the national or regional office directly. He also informed the participants that the Madrid System also simplifies the administrative procedures for the registration, renewal and change of trade mark.

He further said that the Madrid System offers to facilitate the protection of trademarks for goods and services at the international level through a system of registration which is simple and inexpensive and is available to individuals and persons who have commercial or industrial establishment or place of residence in a country party to the Madrid Agreement or Protocol, or who are citizens of one of the member countries.

While explaining the benefits of the Madrid System, Mubarak said the Madrid Protocol can provide citizens of the Member States the protection of goods and services in the export markets. It allows access to the Madrid Protocol for companies in the acceding country to obtain protection for their marks and to maintain that protection through a simple and low cost procedure. He further added that joining of the Madrid System is the guarantee and protection of marks which would encourage exports, as it leads to a gradual increase in the total marks, the desired protection in the country and ensure the signing of an acceding country an important source of revenue.

Lona Al-Moataz, Director of Industrial Property, Bahrain Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Manama, gave a presentation on Bahrain's experience as party to the Madrid System and the benefits the island country's business community gained through the system.