On April 4, 2022, the Chilean government deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol, which allows trademark owners to opt for international trademark registration to internationalize their rights.
Chile, one of the continent’s most economically and politically stable and robust countries—vast and rich in natural resources—is now opening the door for its rights holders to take advantage of the procedures administered by WIPO.
The country has a strong capacity for exploiting raw materials, notably in the areas of fishing, mining and metals—especially copper—as well as agriculture and livestock. However, among the sectors that account for the bulk of imports from abroad are petroleum and its derivatives, industrial machinery, and vehicles—not to mention “tourists”—many of whom are European—who visit this vast and rich country each year to experience its natural diversity. It is an attractive destination for foreign investment, particularly from the United States and Europe.
With Chile's accession to the Madrid System, which will take effect on July 4, 2022, it will be possible to include this country among the more than 128 countries already participating in the system.
It seems certain that the future will involve a significant expansion of trademark rights through the Madrid System, which will allow for the inclusion of an ever-increasing number of Contracting Parties. This will undoubtedly streamline the more bureaucratic administrative procedures, while at the same time making trademark management more sophisticated. However, just because a streamlined system is used for certain procedures and parts of the process does not mean that compliance with all the legal requirements of local agencies and laws can be neglected.