The Madrid Protocol is a treaty directed by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It is one of two treaties that together comprise the Madrid System. The treaty was signed in April 1996 and has been ratified by a number of countries around the world.
The Madrid Protocol allows trademark holders to simplify the process of obtaining multiple trademark registrations in various countries by filing a single application. The only requirement is that this application has to be based on an original application filed in one of the member states.