WIPO Director General Francis Gurry said trademarks, “Are extremely valuable commercial assets. [...] WIPO’s international trademark registration system is a cost-effective, user-friendly and streamlined means by which businesses operating internationally can protect and manage their trademark portfolio.”
WIPO says the rapid growth of the Madrid system over the last two decades reflects the increased internationalisation of trade, and broader recognition of the commercial importance of trademarks.
After the first international trademark was registered in 1893 by Swiss Chocolate-maker Russ-Suchard & Company, it took some 93 years to reach the 500,000 mark, registered in 1986 by Sandoz AG of Switzerland. The 750,000th mark was registered 15 years later in 2001 by microTec Gesellschaft für Mikrotechnologie mbH of Germany. The 900,000 international trademark was registered five years later in 2006 by a Chinese company, Chaozhou Fengxi Jinbaichuan Porcelain Crafts Factory, with the millionth mark registered just three years later.
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