Can I use a Slovak trademark as the basis for an international application through the Madrid System?

Founder & Trademark Attorney · September 07, 2025

Yes. A Slovak national trademark, whether registered or still a pending application with the ÚPV SR, can serve as the basis (the "basic mark") for an international application filed through WIPO under the Madrid System.

The international application is submitted through the ÚPV SR as the office of origin, which certifies it and forwards it to WIPO. From there, the applicant can seek protection in any of the countries party to the Madrid System with a single application.

The basic Slovak mark must remain valid for five years from the date of the international registration. If it is cancelled or lapses within that period, the international registration becomes vulnerable to the same fate, a mechanism known as "central attack."

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