Madrid Applications: Selecting Countries and Checking the Basic Mark

An international trademark plan should begin with markets and products, rather than a desire to register in as many countries as possible. The Madrid System can simplify administration, but the selected countries, the basic mark and the goods and services must fit the business's actual strategy.

Prepare the market list

Review existing exports, distribution agreements and credible sales plans. Identify where competitors or unauthorised distributors create particular concerns. Some markets may require earlier action than others. For each market, specify the goods or services that will carry the mark and consider local language or meaning issues.

Check the basic application

An international application through TÜRKPATENT relies on an eligible Turkish application or registration and the applicant's connection with the office of origin. The owner, the mark and the goods and services require consistency. The international scope cannot simply be treated as an opportunity to add unrelated goods beyond the permitted basic scope.

Understand examination and dependency

WIPO handles the international procedure, while designated offices examine protection under their applicable rules. Provisional refusals can require country-specific responses and local representation. During the first five years, the international registration's dependency on the basic mark is an important risk to assess. A central registration is not a guarantee of acceptance in every designated territory.

Compare costs over time

Consider official fees, classes, local response costs, renewal and later territorial expansion. A central route may offer administrative benefits, but the comparison with national applications depends on the circumstances. Maintain a calendar of notifications and ownership changes. Özgel Patent can help develop a staged market plan and organise the application documents, coordinating with local professionals when needed. Bring the Turkish filing details and an export-country list to the initial review.

Prepared by Özgel Patent · Content reviewed: 3 November 2026. Official reference and current information. This is general information; current requirements and the facts of each file need individual assessment.