The international trademark system administered by WIPO is the Madrid Protocol, commonly called the Madrid System.
The system lets a trademark owner seek protection in multiple member jurisdictions through one international application, one language, and one set of fees. WIPO’s International Bureau records and manages the international registration, while each designated country or regional office decides whether protection will apply locally.
The name can cause confusion. The Madrid Agreement dates from 1891, while the Protocol Relating to that Agreement was adopted in 1989 and became operational in 1996. In modern usage, “Madrid System” is the technically broader name for the framework, while “Madrid Protocol” is the treaty most members use. Both names commonly identify the same international trademark-registration route.
It does not create one worldwide trademark. Instead, it centralizes filing and administration; national or regional authorities retain the power to refuse protection under their own laws.