The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) recently hosted the 2025 Regional Meeting of Intellectual Property Office Officials Responsible for the Madrid System for Asia and Pacific Countries, underscoring a commitment to advancing global trademark protection and expansion through the Madrid Protocol.

The forum welcomed delegates from Madrid Protocol member countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Samoa, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Hongbing Chen, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) director for the Madrid Operations Division, said the current number of international trademark registrations represents 80 percent of the global market.

“The ASEAN and Pacific regions have seen the fastest pace of accession, with nine countries now members. Regional meetings like this are essential for sharing best practices and fostering collaboration,” Chen said.

Cross-border protection

IPOPHL director general Brigitte da Costa-Villaluz echoed the importance of international collaborations in facilitating global trademark protection and highlighted the role of the Madrid Protocol in driving brand expansion across borders.

“As borderless trade expands alongside digital transformations and evolving business needs, it is imperative that we enhance our collective efforts to make the system more responsive, efficient, and user-friendly. We have made significant strides on digitization and the Madrid System,” she said.

The Madrid Protocol is a WIPO-administered international treaty that simplifies and reduces the cost of registering trademarks in multiple signatory countries by requiring a single application and payment.