Australia updates new Madrid Goods and Services list for trademark applications
On March 28, 2024, IP Australia transitioned to using the Madrid Goods and Services list (Madrid List), replacing the former Trade Marks Goods and Services list. This change introduces more comprehensive goods and services descriptions, offering trademark applicants a broader range of options, especially beneficial for those filing TM Headstart applications. Previously, IP Australia’s picklist was relatively limited, making this an advantageous update.
TM Headstart, IP Australia’s pre-application service, assists first-time trademark applicants by reviewing their applications before formal submission and providing feedback to increase their chances of securing trademark protection.
Joanna Lawrence, a partner at Ashurst in Melbourne, highlighted that adopting the Madrid List ensures Australia’s classification and description of goods and services align with other countries using the same list. This consistency benefits trademark owners filing international Madrid applications based on an Australian application or designating Australia, reducing classification and specification issues during examination.
Annika Barrett, a senior expertise lawyer at Ashurst in Melbourne, noted that the Madrid List also addresses the challenge of inconsistent trademark examination practices. The unified list offers clearer guidance on classification and specification issues, benefiting both applicants and examiners by reducing confusion.
Additionally, IP Australia has introduced a semantic search tool to aid users in finding goods and services within the Madrid List. This tool suggests similar terms or types of goods and services, streamlining and expediting the search process.
Lawrence also pointed out that IP Australia’s official filing fees are lower for applications using the picklist exclusively, costing A$250 (US$164) per class compared to A$400 (US$263) per class for other applications. This fee reduction provides a financial incentive for applicants to utilize the picklist.
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– You could see the Procedure of Trademark in Australia here.
– You could visit here to see the Required documents of filing trademark in Australia.
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