# International Trademark Registration

> Describes trademark protection abroad via the Madrid Protocol (WIPO), the EU trade mark (EUTM) and direct national filings.

- Canonical: https://www.webx.net.tr/en/hizmetler/uluslararasi-marka-tescil
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- Last updated: 2026-10-11
- Publisher: Webx Marka Patent ve Fikri Sınai Haklar Danışmanlık A.Ş. (https://www.webx.net.tr/)

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Your registration in Türkiye protects you only in Türkiye. If you export or are growing abroad, you need to register your brand in your target countries as well.

- 17+ Years of Experience
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- Madrid Protocol & EUTM
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## In short: What Is International Trademark Registration?

Trademark rights are territorial: a registration obtained in Türkiye protects you only within Türkiye. To be protected abroad you must either file in each country separately or use an international system. The Madrid Protocol, administered by WIPO, allows registration in several member countries through a single application; Türkiye is a party to it and applications are filed through TÜRKPATENT as the office of origin.

If only the European Union is targeted, the EU Trade Mark (EUTM) — which covers all EU members with one application — is usually the more efficient route.

## Which System Should You File Under?

The right route is determined by your target markets. We handle all three; before you decide, we go through your commercial priorities together.

- **Madrid Protocol** — Registration in several member countries through a single filing before WIPO. Renewals and changes are managed from one point.
  One application, one file
  Centralised management and renewal
  Requires a basic application in Türkiye
  Central attack risk in the first five years
- **EU Trade Mark (EUTM)** — A single filing before the EUIPO giving protection valid in every EU member state. The most efficient route if only the EU is targeted.
  One application, the whole EU
  Renewal from a single point
  Distinctiveness is expected across the whole EU
  "All or nothing" opposition risk
- **Direct National Filing** — Filing before the local office for countries outside the Madrid system or markets where a direct filing is more advantageous.
  The only route for non-Madrid countries
  More advantageous in certain markets
  Local attorney coordination
  A separate process for each country

## Madrid, EU Trade Mark (EUTM) and National Filing Compared

The key differences between the three routes in one table. Fee amounts are set by the offices concerned and change over time; the exact amount for your target countries is confirmed in writing.

**International trademark registration routes: where to file, coverage, prerequisite, term of protection, refusal process, fee items and best fit**

| Criterion | Madrid Protocol | EU Trade Mark (EUTM) | Direct National Filing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Where to file | WIPO, through TÜRKPATENT as the office of origin | Directly with the EUIPO | Each country's own trademark office |
| Coverage | Selected Madrid member countries; each country decides separately | A single, unitary right in all 27 EU Member States | Only the country filed in |
| Prerequisite | A basic application or registration in Türkiye; the international scope cannot exceed the basic mark | No Turkish filing required | No Turkish filing required |
| Term of protection | 10 years; renewed in a single step through WIPO | 10 years; renewable indefinitely | Depends on national law |
| Refusal process | Each country may issue a provisional refusal within 12 (in some cases 18) months; a refusal in one does not affect the others | One examination; an obstacle in part of the EU affects the whole application, which can be converted into national applications | Separate examination and opposition in each country |
| Fee items | TÜRKPATENT forwarding fee (item 02.01.19) + WIPO basic fee + fees for the designated countries (CHF) | EUIPO application fee + additional class fees (EUR) | Each country's official fee + local attorney fee |
| Main risk | Dependence on the basic application for the first 5 years (central attack) | Unitary right: no partial protection within the EU ("all or nothing") | Follow-up and renewal run separately in each country |
| Best fit | Several countries, especially markets outside the EU | When only the EU market is targeted | Countries outside the Madrid System, or markets where a local filing is advantageous |

Sources: WIPO Madrid System FAQ, EUIPO and the TÜRKPATENT trademark fee schedule. Time limits and fees may be changed by the offices concerned.

## How Is an International Trademark Registered?

- 1
  **Target Market and Strategy Analysis**
  The countries you export to or plan to export to are identified, and whether the Madrid Protocol, the EU Trade Mark (EUTM) or a direct national filing is more efficient is decided according to your business model.
- 2
  **Basic Application Check**
  The Madrid system is based on an existing or simultaneously filed basic trademark application or registration in Türkiye. If you do not have a Turkish registration, it is completed first or both processes are planned together.
- 3
  **Defining Country and Class Coverage**
  The Madrid system is likewise based on the Nice Classification. The scope of your basic application is the ceiling for your scope abroad and cannot be broadened afterwards, so the class coverage is set correctly from the outset.
- 4
  **Filing and Fee Notification**
  The Madrid application is submitted to WIPO through TÜRKPATENT as the office of origin. WIPO and national office fees are denominated in foreign currency; the amount is converted into Turkish Lira at the exchange rate applicable when you place the order and reported to you.
- 5
  **Refusal Notices and Local Attorney Coordination**
  Any provisional refusal issued by the offices of the countries you selected is forwarded to you immediately. Where proceedings must be conducted before the local office, Webx handles coordination with a local trademark attorney in that country.

## In International Registration Two Critical Risks

If these two issues are not discussed at the strategy stage, they can produce consequences that are hard to undo years later. Both are set out explicitly in our service agreement.

- **Central Attack** — For the first five years the international registration is dependent on the basic application in Türkiye. If that basic application is refused, cancelled or invalidated during this period, the international registration can be affected too.
- **Class Coverage Cannot Be Broadened Later** — The Madrid system is based on the Nice Classification, and the scope of your basic application is also the ceiling for your scope abroad. If your Turkish application is drafted narrowly, the international registration stays just as narrow.

### How Pricing Works

- **Fees are denominated in foreign currency** — WIPO and national office fees are usually set in CHF, USD or EUR.
- **Reported at the exchange rate on the order date** — The amount is converted into Turkish Lira at the exchange rate applicable when you place the order and reported to you.
- **Exchange-rate differences may be settled separately** — Any shortfall or surplus arising from the exchange-rate difference between payment and the date the fee is actually paid is settled separately.
- **Responding to a refusal is a separate service** — Preparing a response to a provisional refusal is a separate service and fee unless agreed otherwise.

## If You Sell Across Borders Your Protection Must Cross Borders Too

- **Exporters** — Every market you sell in is a market where your brand can be copied.
- **E-commerce Sellers** — Brand protection programmes on Amazon and similar platforms require a local registration.
- **Franchisor Brands** — The legal foundation of your overseas franchise network is the registration in the target country.
- **Startups Expanding Abroad** — Registering before you enter a market is both cheaper and safer than registering afterwards.

## Frequently Asked Questions

Ask us anything you want to know about international trademark registration.

- **Is my Turkish trademark registration valid abroad as well?** — No, your Turkish trademark registration is not valid abroad. Trademark rights are territorial; each country recognises only its own registration. Your registration in Türkiye does not give automatic protection in, say, Germany or the United States. To be protected abroad, you must either file in each country separately or use an international system such as the Madrid Protocol.
- **What is the Madrid Protocol?** — The Madrid Protocol is an international system administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that allows a trademark to be registered in several member countries through a single application. Türkiye is a party to the system; the application is filed with WIPO through TÜRKPATENT as the office of origin, based on your existing Turkish application or registration. You select the member countries where you want protection, and each country examines the application separately under its own legislation and makes its own decision.
- **Do I need a Turkish registration first for an international application?** — Completed registration in Türkiye is not required for an international application; however, an application under the Madrid Protocol must be based on an existing or simultaneously filed basic trademark application or registration in Türkiye. The international scope cannot exceed the basic mark. If you do not yet have a Turkish application, we can start both processes together. The EU Trade Mark (EUTM) and direct national filings have no Turkish filing requirement.
- **What is a "central attack"?** — Central attack is the risk arising in the Madrid system from the international registration being dependent on the basic application in Türkiye for the first five years. If the basic application is refused, cancelled or invalidated within this period, the international registration can be adversely affected. This risk is stated explicitly in our service agreement and is factored in from the outset when the strategy is built.
- **What is an EU Trade Mark (EUTM) and how does it differ from Madrid?** — The EU Trade Mark (EUTM, European Union Trade Mark) is administered by the EUIPO and, through a single application, provides a single, unitary protection across all 27 EU member states. Madrid, by contrast, offers a wide pool of countries that also extends beyond the EU, and each country decides separately. If you target only the EU market, the EUTM is usually more efficient; if your targets extend beyond the EU, Madrid may suit you better.
- **What is the risk with an EUTM?** — The main risk of the EUTM is that it works on an "all or nothing" basis: a serious opposition from even one member state can affect the entire EU registration. Your mark is also expected to be distinctive across the whole EU. If such an obstacle arises, the application can be converted into national applications. That is why a thorough search before filing matters.
- **Which countries should I register in?** — Which countries you should register in depends on your business model: the markets you actually sell in, the markets in your sales plan, the countries where you manufacture and the markets with a high counterfeiting risk are all weighed together. Because every country means an additional fee, the scope has to be built around your real commercial priorities. Once the target markets are clear, it is decided whether the Madrid Protocol, an EU Trade Mark (EUTM) or a direct national filing is suitable.
- **How much does international trademark registration cost?** — The cost of international trademark registration depends on the number of countries selected, the number of NICE classes and each country's own fee schedule. Fees are usually denominated in a foreign currency (CHF, USD, EUR) and are reported after conversion into Turkish Lira at the exchange rate applicable when you place the order. Any exchange-rate difference between payment and the date the fee is actually paid may be settled separately. If you share your target countries, an itemised quote is prepared.
- **What happens if I receive a provisional refusal?** — If you receive a provisional refusal, the notice is forwarded to you immediately and responding on time is critical. It is issued after the office of the country you selected examines your application under its own legislation; in the Madrid system, each country can notify a refusal within 12 (in some cases 18) months, and a refusal in one country does not affect the others. Preparing the response is a separate service and fee unless agreed otherwise.
- **Is a local attorney required for filings abroad?** — A local attorney is required for foreign filings in some countries, where proceedings before the national office must be conducted through a local attorney. In those cases, Webx works with a local trademark attorney or law firm operating in that country and handles the coordination on your behalf. In countries that are not party to Madrid, direct national filings are also made through local attorney coordination.
- **What happens for countries outside the Madrid system?** — For countries that are not members of the Madrid system, the direct national filing route is used and the process is run through local attorney coordination. In certain markets, a direct national filing can also be more advantageous even where the country is party to Madrid. On this route, the application is filed with each country's own trademark office, protection covers only that country, and examination, opposition, follow-up and renewal run separately in each country.
- **Can I manage my international registration from one place?** — Yes, with the Madrid system you can manage your international registration from a single point; this is one of the system's greatest strengths. Renewals, name/address changes and assignments can all be handled centrally; the international registration lasts 10 years and is renewed through WIPO in a single transaction. For Webx clients, the entire international portfolio is tracked in the same customer panel as their Turkish files.
- **Can I have my overseas trademark watched as well?** — Yes, you can have your foreign trademark watched too. Our standard trademark watch service covers the TÜRKPATENT bulletin; for your international marks, we offer extended packages that also monitor the bulletins of foreign offices such as the EUIPO and WIPO. This way, similar applications published abroad are tracked as well. If you have not filed yet, conflicts in your target markets can be researched before filing with a Trademark Search.
- **Should I register in Türkiye first or abroad first?** — If you will use the Madrid system, the Turkish application is either filed first or run simultaneously with the international one, because the basic application requirement makes the Turkish leg mandatory. The scope of the basic application is also the upper limit of your foreign scope and cannot be broadened later, so setting your class coverage around your export plan from the very start is critical. The EUTM and direct national filings have no such requirement.

Country lists, fee schedules and processing times are set by the relevant offices (WIPO, EUIPO, national offices) and may change. This page is for general information; the current amounts and timelines specific to your target markets are provided to you in writing after a free strategy consultation.

## Sources

- [WIPO — The Madrid System (international trademark registration)](https://www.wipo.int/en/web/madrid-system) (wipo.int)
- [WIPO — Madrid System frequently asked questions](https://www.wipo.int/en/web/madrid-system/faq) (wipo.int) 10-year term, 12/18-month refusal period, fees in CHF
- [WIPO — Madrid members: provisional refusal time limits](https://www.wipo.int/en/web/madrid-system/members/provisional-refusal-time-limits-to-respond) (wipo.int)
- [EUIPO — Benefits of registering an EU trade mark](https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/trade-marks/before-applying/benefits-of-registering) (euipo.europa.eu) Unitary character of the EU trade mark and 10-year term
- [TÜRKPATENT — Trademark Fees (2026)](https://www.turkpatent.gov.tr/marka-islem-ucretleri) (turkpatent.gov.tr) Item 02.01.19 fee for forwarding to WIPO

Last updated: 11 October 2026

## Related Resources

- [What Is International Trademark Registration and the Madrid Protocol?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/international-trademark-registration-madrid-protocol): International trademark registration from Turkey: how the Madrid Protocol works, the TRY 3,850 TÜRKPATENT fee, the 5-year dependency and which route to choose.
- [European Union Trademark Registration (EUTM) Guide](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/european-union-trademark-eutm-guide): EU trademark registration: one EUIPO filing for 27 countries, the EUR 850 filing fee, the 3-month opposition period, the EEA representative rule and Madrid.
- [US Trademark Registration (USPTO) Guide](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/us-trademark-registration-uspto-guide): US trademark registration for Turkish businesses: USPTO filing bases, the USD 350 per-class fee, the US attorney rule, declarations of use and Madrid vs direct.
- [Madrid Protocol Member Countries: Where Can You Register a Trademark?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/madrid-protocol-member-countries): Madrid Protocol member countries: 117 contracting parties per WIPO, a region-by-region table, key markets outside Madrid and 2026 filing fees from Turkey.
- [What Should You Do If Your Madrid Application Receives a Provisional Refusal?](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/responding-to-a-madrid-provisional-refusal): What does a Madrid provisional refusal mean? Refusal periods, reading the notification, response deadlines, limitation and grant statements; Madrid Monitor.
- [Trademark Registration in the UK: The New Landscape After Brexit](https://www.webx.net.tr/en/blog/trademark-registration-in-the-uk): UK trademark registration: EU marks no longer cover the UK; GBP 205 to file at the UKIPO, the UK address rule, 2-month opposition, notification and Madrid.