Why International Trademark Protection Is Expensive — and Worth It
Trademark rights are territorial by default. Your U.S. federal registration gives you rights in the United States and nowhere else. A competitor can register an identical mark in Germany, Australia, or Canada and use it freely — even if you've been using the name for years in the U.S. — because you never established rights in those jurisdictions.
For businesses with international operations, international expansion plans, or products that sell online to global customers, this exposure is real. The cost of international trademark protection sounds significant until you compare it to the cost of losing your brand name in a market where you're doing meaningful revenue.
Country-by-Country Official Filing Fees (2026)
United States (USPTO)
TEAS Plus: $250 per class. TEAS Standard: $350 per class. Most straightforward applications use TEAS Plus. A two-class U.S. filing costs $500 in official fees.
European Union (EUIPO)
€850 for one class, €900 for two, €1,050 for three, €150 per additional class. One filing covers all 27 EU member states.
United Kingdom (UKIPO)
£170 for one class online, £50 per additional class. Straightforward and fast — the UKIPO typically registers uncontested marks in 4 months.
Canada (CIPO)
CAD $336 base application fee, CAD $105 per additional class. Canada moved to a Nice Classification system in 2019; applications filed before that date may still be working through the system under old rules.
Australia (IP Australia)
AUD $250 per class for online filing. Australia has a relatively fast and straightforward examination process.
China (CNIPA)
CNY 300 per class (approximately $40–$45 USD at current exchange rates). China's official fees are low — but the practical cost is higher because China is a first-to-file jurisdiction with endemic trademark squatting, making early filing and careful monitoring essential.
Japan (JPO)
JPY 12,000–18,000 per class at filing, plus examination fees. Japan's system is thorough and can take 12–18 months for registration.
The squatting risk in China: China grants trademark rights to the first filer, not the first user. Hundreds of foreign brand names are squatted each year by Chinese entities who file before the brand owner does. Filing in China early — even before you have Chinese operations — is standard practice for any brand with international visibility.
The Madrid Protocol Option
Rather than filing separately in each country, the Madrid Protocol allows you to file one international application through WIPO, designating the countries you want coverage in. You need a base trademark in your home country (pending or registered) to file internationally.
Madrid Protocol fees (in Swiss francs, CHF):
- Basic application fee: CHF 653 (black and white mark) or CHF 903 (color mark)
- Per-country designation fees: vary by country, typically CHF 100–400 per country per class
- Individual country fees apply for countries that haven't adopted a flat designation fee
For designating 5+ countries, the Madrid Protocol is almost always cheaper than direct national filings. The tradeoff: if your base mark is refused or cancelled within 5 years, all Madrid designations fall with it (the "central attack" vulnerability). For this reason, sophisticated filers sometimes pursue both Madrid designations and direct national filings in key markets.
Realistic Total Cost: U.S. + Core International
U.S. + EU + UK (1 class each, no complications):
$250 (USPTO) + €850 (EUIPO) + £170 (UKIPO) + attorney fees (~$3,000–$4,500 for all three) = approximately $5,500–$7,000 total
U.S. + EU + UK + Canada + Australia (1 class each):
Official fees: ~$1,800 combined + attorney fees (~$5,000–$8,000) = approximately $7,000–$10,000 total
Full international via Madrid Protocol (10 countries, 1 class):
CHF 653 base + ~CHF 2,000–3,000 in designation fees + U.S. attorney fees (~$1,500–$2,500) = approximately $5,000–$7,000
When to File Internationally
The practical trigger for international filing is when you have, or expect within 18 months, either commercial operations in a market or meaningful revenue from customers in that market. Filing too early wastes money on jurisdictions you may never use. Filing too late risks squatting, prior registration by competitors, or losing priority.
A reasonable international filing strategy: file in your home market first, then use the Paris Convention 6-month priority window to extend to international markets — all with the same priority date as your home filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a single "world trademark" I can file?
No. There is no universal trademark. The Madrid Protocol comes closest — it's one application designating multiple countries — but each designated country examines the mark under its own law and can refuse registration independently. A Madrid filing is an efficient way to manage multiple national applications, not a single global right.
Which countries should I prioritize if I have a limited budget?
File where you have current revenue, then where you plan to operate within 2 years, then in high-squatting-risk jurisdictions (China above all). If forced to choose: U.S., EU, and China cover the largest commercial markets and the highest-risk squatting environment. UK and Australia are relatively fast and inexpensive and worth adding if budget allows.
Do I need a local attorney in each country?
For most countries, yes — a local attorney or trademark agent is either legally required or practically necessary to navigate national examination procedures. Madrid Protocol filings through WIPO require a representative in your home country only; the WIPO handles routing, but individual country examination responses still require local counsel.