The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently announced that it will transition the channel for domestic applicants to submit international trademark registration applications outbound from the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) to Madrid e-Filing. Operated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), this filing platform is already in use by IP offices in over 40 countries.

This system transition will provide USPTO applicants with a more efficient and streamlined pathway for international trademark applications.Designed specifically for international application-related filings under the Madrid Protocol, Madrid e-Filing is expected to enhance the overall customer experience by reducing filing errors, introducing a secure communication system for corrections during the certification process, and helping international applicants resolve issues more quickly.The platform is also expected to reduce formal denials of certification and subsequent petitions for review challenging such denial decisions.

From now through September 30, applicants may continue to submit international trademark applications via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) or switch to Madrid e-Filing.Effective October 1, 2026, Madrid e-Filing will become the sole platform for submitting initial international trademark applications based on U.S. applications and registrations.Applicants must register for a WIPO account prior to using the system.

“We are pleased to roll out Madrid e-Filing to provide applicants with a convenient pathway for international trademark filings,” said Dan Vavonese, Acting Commissioner for Trademarks at the USPTO.“This system will help applicants save time, communicate more easily regarding relevant issues, and complete filings with a reduced risk of error.”

The USPTO has also issued a final rule amending its regulations governing applications under the Madrid Protocol. The rule replaces specific electronic filing system names with more generic terms to support this transition. Additionally, the agency has published a notice in the Federal Register officially designating "Madrid e-Filing" as the designated platform for handling international trademark applications.

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