Madrid Statement of Grant or Refusal of Protection: The Office of each designated Contracting Party shall send a statement of grant of protection in accordance with Rule 18ter of the Common Regulations. However, Contracting Parties examining the compliance of an international registration with their national law may refuse the request for protection in their territory if certain substantive provisions are not met.
Any such refusal, including a statement of the reasons for it, must be notified to the International Bureau, normally within 12 months from the date of the notification. However, a Contracting Party to the Madrid Protocol may declare that this time limit is extended to 18 months for designations made to it under the Madrid Protocol. A Contracting Party to the Madrid Protocol may also declare that a refusal based on an opposition may be notified to the International Bureau even after the 18-month time limit. The refusal is notified to the holder or his representative before the International Bureau, recorded in the International Register and published in the Gazette. Subsequent proceedings on the refusal (such as appeal or review) shall be conducted directly between the competent administration and/or court of the Contracting Party concerned and the holder, without the involvement of the International Bureau. However, the final decision on refusal must be notified to the International Bureau, which will record and publish it.
Effect of international registration: The effect of international registration in each designated Contracting Party is that, from the date of the international registration, the mark has the same effect as if it had been directly registered with the competent authority of that Contracting Party. If no rejection notice is issued within the applicable time limit, or if a Contracting Party revokes the original rejection notice, the protection of the mark shall be the same as if the mark had been registered with the competent authority of that Contracting Party from the date of the international registration.
International registration is valid for 10 years. It can be renewed for further 10-year periods upon payment of the prescribed fees.
Protection may be limited to some or all goods or services, or protection may be waived only for some of the designated Contracting Parties. The transfer of an international registration may involve all or some of the designated Contracting Parties and all or some of the goods or services described.