What’s in this article
An NCR exporter ships to fifteen countries on a brand registered in exactly one. A distributor in a key market registers the name locally, and suddenly the company is negotiating to buy back its own brand. Going global without filing globally is how Indian exporters lose their names abroad.
The Madrid Protocol, administered by WIPO, lets one Indian application reach 130+ member countries — a single filing instead of dozens of national ones. For Delhi/NCR exporters in software, FMCG, fashion and fintech, it is the cheapest route to international protection. This guide covers the base-mark rule, the WIPO process and the dependency risk. The India-wide primer is Madrid Protocol from India: one filing, 130+ countries.
You export the product worldwide. If you register the brand in one country, you own it in one country.
Why Delhi/NCR exporters need Madrid
NCR is an export hub across software, consumer goods and services. Every market you sell into is a market where someone can register your name first — trademark rights are territorial. The Madrid Protocol turns one Indian base filing into protection across chosen markets, managed centrally. SaaS exporters should pair this with the NCR SaaS guide.
The base-mark requirement
Madrid is not a standalone filing. It must be based on a corresponding Indian application or registration — the base mark — at IP India. So step one is always a domestic filing through trademark registration, ideally after a clean search. NCR applicants file the base mark through the Delhi office, whether based in Delhi, Gurgaon or Noida.
MM2 form and WIPO submission
The international application is filed on Form MM2 through the Indian Registry, which certifies it against your base mark and forwards it to WIPO. WIPO checks formalities, records the international registration, and sends it to each designated country’s office for examination under its own law.
Designated countries and national examination
You choose which member countries to designate. Each then examines the mark under its own law and can accept or refuse it within a set period. Madrid simplifies filing and management; it does not override local distinctiveness or conflict rules. Map your classes carefully on the class finder — the goods and services must align with your base mark — and price the designations on the cost calculator.
One application, many countries — but each country still examines on its own terms. Madrid is one door, not a skeleton key.
The 5-year dependency window
For the first five years, the international registration depends on the base mark. If the Indian base mark is refused, withdrawn or cancelled in that period, the international registration falls with it — the “central attack” risk. A weak base mark is therefore a liability for the whole portfolio, which is one more reason to file a clean, well-searched base mark and keep it alive through timely renewal.
Exporting from Delhi/NCR and need international protection? WhatsApp +91-70421-05852 — first review free, no commitment.
Get free consult →Filing strategy by export market
Designate by where you actually sell or plan to sell within 12–18 months — designating dormant markets wastes fees.
- SaaS / software — US, EU, UK, Gulf. See IP for SaaS and software companies.
- FMCG & consumer goods — Gulf, Africa, Southeast Asia. See trademark for FMCG brands.
- Fashion & apparel — US, EU, UAE. See fashion and apparel brands.
- Fintech — market-by-market with the regulatory overlay. See IP for fintech companies.
Common Madrid mistakes for NCR exporters
- No base mark. Madrid cannot be filed without an Indian application or registration.
- A weak base mark. The dependency window puts the whole portfolio at risk.
- Over-designating. Paying for dormant markets you do not sell in.
- Mismatched goods/services. Designations must align with the base mark.
- Filing too late. A local distributor registers the name first.
Start the base mark at trademark registration in Gurgaon or Delhi, and read the registration mechanics in the complete 2026 Delhi guide and how to register a trademark in India.
People also ask
Can I file Madrid without an Indian trademark?
No. The Madrid application must be based on a corresponding Indian application or registration. The domestic base mark comes first, always.
How many countries can I cover with one Madrid filing?
You can designate any of the 130+ member countries from a single international application. You choose which, and add more later.
What is central attack in Madrid?
If the base mark is cancelled within the first five years, the dependent international registration falls too. It can be transformed into national applications, but at extra cost and effort.
Where do NCR companies file Madrid applications?
Through the Trade Marks Registry’s Delhi office on Form MM2, based on the Indian base mark. Gurgaon and Noida applicants use the same Delhi jurisdiction, and filing is online.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Madrid Protocol?
A WIPO-administered system that lets you file one international application, based on a home base mark, and designate up to 130+ member countries from it instead of filing separately in each.
Do I need an Indian trademark first?
Yes. The Madrid application must be based on a corresponding Indian application or registration, filed through the Indian Registry. Start with domestic registration.
What is the 5-year dependency period?
For five years the international registration depends on the base mark. If the base mark is refused or cancelled in that window, the international registration falls with it, though it can be transformed into national applications.
Is Madrid cheaper than national filings?
Usually, yes. One application, one currency and central management is typically far cheaper than separate national filings across several markets. Price it on the cost calculator.
How do NCR exporters file under Madrid?
On Form MM2 through the Trade Marks Registry’s Delhi office, based on the Indian base mark. Filing is online and Gurgaon and Noida applicants use the same jurisdiction.
File the base mark clean, designate where you actually sell, and protect the brand in every market the product reaches.