On 6 February 2023, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) announced that Mauritius has become the 114^th member to join the Madrid System, which is an international centralised trademark system aimed at facilitating trademark application and protection. Through the filing of one international application and payment of a single set of fees, brand owners from Mauritius are now able to seek protection of their trademarks in any of the other 129 countries covered by the Madrid System.

New users worldwide now have the ability to designate Mauritius when securing international protection for their trademarks, while existing members of the Madrid System can expand the geographical scope of protection of their registrations to include Mauritius.

With the prominent role that Intellectual Property (IP) plays on the development of Mauritius’ knowledge-based economy, this newly adopted policy will aim to further position the country as a hub that promotes and actively protects research and innovation vis-à-vis international parties.

The Madrid Protocol will enter into force in Mauritius on 6 May 2023.

More information on the above can be accessed here