If you’re developing video games or board games and want to protect your trademark internationally, you may have heard about the Madrid Protocol. It’s a streamlined way to get your initial trademark application (in the US, for example) filed in multiple countries at once.
But figuring out what it’ll actually cost you? That’s where things can get a little tricky, but this post should walk you through the important steps.
Here’s why the Madrid System Fee Calculator matters
The Madrid System fee calculator is your best friend here.
Managed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), this free tool helps you estimate costs for international trademark registration across multiple countries.
Instead of filing separate trademark applications in each country (which gets expensive fast), the Madrid System employs a streamlined process that can save you serious money and headaches.
Think of it this way: you’re launching your game globally. You need trademark protection in the US, EU, Japan, and maybe a few other major territories.
Without the Madrid System, you’d be hiring local attorneys in each jurisdiction, navigating different trademark offices, and dealing with various fee structures.
With the Madrid Protocol, you file one international application through your home country’s trademark office.
What Is the Madrid System and How Does It Work?
The Madrid System is an international trademark registration system administered by WIPO. It includes both the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol, though the Protocol is what most people use these days since it covers more member countries.
It allows you to take a single home application, and file it in various Madrid-friendly countries in one shot.
Here’s the basic process:
- Start with a trademark application or registration in your home country (your “basic application”)
- File an international application through your home trademark office
- Designate which contracting parties (the countries, basically) you want protection in
- WIPO reviews your international registration for basic compliance
- WIPO forwards your application to each designated contracting party for approval
- Each country’s trademark office examines your mark independently
The beauty of this system is that it creates a cost-effective solution for protecting your intellectual property globally.
Instead of managing separate trademark registrations in each country, you maintain one international registration through WIPO.
Need to expand globally later? You can add subsequent designations without starting from scratch (for a small additional fee to WIPO, of course).
Breaking Down the Madrid System Fee Structure
The fee structure for international trademark registration has three main components, and understanding each one helps you budget accurately.
Basic Fee and Supplementary Fees
The basic application fee covers one class of goods or services.
If your trademark covers additional classes, you’ll pay a supplementary fee for each additional class. The Madrid System fee calculator automatically factors this in when you enter your class information.
For example, if you’re registering a game trademark that covers both online software components (one class) and downloadable software (an additional class), you’d pay the basic fee plus one supplementary fee.
The fee calculator helps you see exactly what this costs in Swiss francs, which is the currency used for all Madrid transactions.
Individual Fees for Certain Contracting Parties
Most contracting parties charge individual fees instead of (or in addition to) the basic and supplementary fees. These individual fees vary depending on the country and can significantly impact your overall cost.
The Madrid System fee calculator shows you which designated contracting parties charge individual fees and calculates the total automatically. This is crucial for budgeting because individual fees can sometimes exceed the basic fee itself.
Complementary Fees and Second Fee Tax
For certain contracting parties, you might encounter complementary fees or a second fee tax. These additional costs are assessed based on the specific examination process in that jurisdiction.
The complementary fee typically applies when your international trademark covers three classes or more in certain territories.
The second fee tax is charged by some contracting parties after they examine your mark and determine the final number of classes accepted. The fee calculator helps estimate these costs upfront, though the actual second fee tax amount might vary depending on the examination results.
How to Use the Madrid System Fee Calculator
The fee calculator is a straightforward web-based tool on WIPO’s website. Here’s how to use it effectively.
Step-by-Step: Calculating Your Fees
- First, you’ll enter your mark information – whether it’s a word mark, logo, or combination.
- Next, you’ll specify the number of classes your trademark covers. Each class represents a category of goods or services.
- Then comes the important part: selecting your designated contracting parties. The fee calculator lets you choose multiple countries at once. As you select each designated country, the calculator shows you whether that jurisdiction charges individual fees, complementary fees, or a fee tax.
The Madrid System fee calculator automatically calculates the basic fee, any supplementary fees for additional classes, individual fees for certain contracting parties, and estimates for second fee tax amounts.
It provides a detailed breakdown so you can see exactly where your money goes. See the example below:
Understanding the Total Cost Calculation
The fee calculator helps you understand the total cost by showing each component separately.
You’ll see the basic application fee (non-refundable once paid), fees for each additional class, individual fees for each designated contracting party, and any complementary fees or fee tax estimates.
Keep in mind that these are WIPO fees only.
You’ll also have legal fees if you hire local attorneys to handle the application, and your home country trademark office may charge their own certification fee for forwarding your international application to WIPO.
For example, in my practice, I charge a flat fee for preparing and filing this application (which varies depending on the number of countries involved). There’s also a $100 or $150 fee per class (depending on whether it’s based on one or multiple applications) for using the United States USPTO Madrid filing system to initiate the application. This is current as of November 2025 – it may change from time to time.
Practical Tips for Managing International Trademark Costs
Now that you understand how the fee calculator works, let’s talk strategy for keeping costs down while maximizing protection.
Prioritize Your Target Markets
You don’t need to file in every member country on day one. Use the fee calculator to model different scenarios.
Maybe you start with your three biggest markets and add subsequent designations as your game gains traction. Each subsequent designation has its own costs, but you can spread these out over time.
For indie game developers, I usually recommend starting with countries where you’re actively selling or marketing and focus initially on your top revenue territories.
You can always expand globally later through subsequent designations, though if you wait too long, you may lose your priority date from the original international registration.
Be Strategic About Classes
Each additional class adds to your cost – sometimes significantly when you factor in individual fees for certain contracting parties. The fee calculator makes this very clear: watch how the total jumps when you add that third or fourth class.
For most game developers, you’ll typically need one class (Class 9 for downloadable games) or potentially two if you’re offering online gaming services (Class 41). Adding three classes should be carefully considered since some jurisdictions charge higher complementary fees once you hit three classes.
Consider how important it is to your business whether you’re covering things like t-shirts and other merchandise, or other types of products like board games if your main product is a video game. It may be worth it to you to get that protection – it’s usually a question of how much money you’re willing to put into this from the beginning.
Understanding the Payment Process
Once you’ve used the fee calculator to estimate costs, you need to actually pay WIPO. The fees are payable in Swiss francs through bank transfers or by using a WIPO current account (which you can set up if you’re filing multiple international applications).
You can also usually pay through the local trademark office, like the USPTO if you’re starting from the US.
Keeping track of payment deadlines is crucial. Late payment can result in your international application being considered abandoned.
Common Fee Calculator Scenarios for Game Developers
Let’s look at some realistic scenarios using the Madrid System fee calculator.
Scenario 1: Small Indie Studio Going Global
You’ve got a successful mobile game and want international trademark protection in the US, EU, Japan, and Canada. Your trademark covers one class of goods (downloadable software).
Using the fee calculator, you’d see the basic fee plus individual fees for these specific contracting parties, since most major markets charge them.
Scenario 2: Board Game Publisher Expanding Protection
You published a board game two years ago with US trademark protection. Now you’re distributing in Europe and want to add trademark protection there.
You’d use the fee calculator to estimate costs for subsequent designations to EU member countries.
The calculator shows you the fee structure for adding these designated contracting parties to your existing international registration.
Scenario 3: Multi-Class Protection for a Game Franchise
Your game franchise needs protection for multiple classes: downloadable games, online gaming services, and game-related apparel.
That’s three classes minimum.
The Madrid System fee calculator reveals how additional classes affect your costs differently depending on which contracting parties you’re targeting. It’s typically a smaller additional cost than just the initial class, but this can vary per country.
Costs Beyond the Fee Calculator
The Madrid System fee calculator gives you WIPO’s costs, but your total cost for international trademark registration includes other expenses.
Here’s what else to budget for:
- Legal fees for preparing and filing your application (typically several hundred to a few thousand dollars)
- Home trademark office certification fees (separate from WIPO fees)
- Potential costs for responding to office actions in designated countries
- Local attorney fees if you need jurisdiction-specific help
- Renewal costs to maintain the registrations
Legal Fees and Attorney Costs
Legal fees for preparing and filing your international application can vary significantly.
Some trademark attorneys charge a flat fee for Madrid Protocol filings, while others bill hourly. Budget for several hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on complexity and number of countries.
If the designated contracting party issues an office action (objection to your mark), you may need local attorneys to respond. These legal fees vary depending on the country and the issues raised.
Some trademark offices are more likely to issue office actions than others, so factor this into your risk assessment.
Home Trademark Office Fees
Your home country trademark office typically charges a certification fee to review and forward your international application to WIPO.
In the United States, the USPTO certification fee is separate from WIPO’s fees. These costs related to your home trademark office aren’t included in the Madrid System fee calculator.
Renewal Costs
International registrations typically last 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely. The fee calculator can also estimate renewal fees.
When planning your trademark budget, remember you’ll need to renew your international trademark protection every 10 years, and renewal costs follow a similar fee structure to your initial registration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Madrid Protocol Fees
How much does Madrid Protocol filing typically cost?
Costs vary depending on your class of goods, the number of additional classes, and which contracting parties you designate.
The Madrid System fee calculator shows that a basic international trademark application covering one class typically starts around 650-900 Swiss francs, but individual fees for certain contracting parties can add significantly to this amount.
For popular territory combinations like the US, EU, and Japan, expect total WIPO fees of 2,000-4,000 Swiss francs for one class.
What is the complementary fee for WIPO Madrid applications?
The complementary fee applies when you register an international trademark covering three classes or more in territories that use this fee structure instead of individual fees per class.
The fee calculator automatically shows whether your selected contracting parties use complementary fees or individual fees for additional classes.
How does the fee tax system work?
Some contracting parties charge a fee tax (also called a second fee tax) based on their examination of your mark.
This fee is assessed after the designated contracting party reviews your international application and determines the final classification. The Madrid System fee calculator provides estimates for these costs, but the actual amount might vary depending on the examination results in each jurisdiction.
Can I use the fee calculator for subsequent designations?
Yes. The fee calculator helps you estimate costs for subsequent designations when you want to add new contracting parties to an existing international registration. This is helpful when you’re expanding globally over time rather than filing in all territories at once.
What payment methods does WIPO accept?
WIPO accepts payment through bank transfers or via a WIPO current account. All fees are payable in Swiss francs. The payment process typically gives you one business day to confirm payment after receiving an invoice from WIPO.
Making the Madrid System Fee Calculator Work for You
The Madrid System fee calculator is an essential tool for planning your international trademark registration strategy. It transforms what seems like an impossibly complex fee structure into clear numbers you can actually budget for.
Here’s my advice: spend time playing with different scenarios in the fee calculator.
- Try one class versus two or three classes to see cost differences
- Compare costs for different combinations of contracting parties
- Model subsequent designations versus filing everything upfront
- Check individual fees for your target markets
- Factor in complementary fees and second fee tax for certain jurisdictions
The Madrid Protocol exists to make international trademark protection accessible and cost-effective for businesses of all sizes. The fee calculator helps you understand exactly what you’re paying for – basic fees, supplementary fees, individual fees, complementary fees – so there are no surprises.
Whether you’re a solo indie developer protecting your first game or a publisher managing a portfolio of international trademarks, understanding the fee structure is crucial. The World Intellectual Property Organization designed this system to be more accessible than filing separate trademark applications in each member country, but only if you understand how to use it strategically.
Start by using the Madrid System fee calculator to model your specific situation. Factor in legal fees from your attorney, any costs related to your home trademark office, and potential costs for responding to office actions.
Then you’ll have a realistic picture of the overall cost for international trademark protection.
Need help navigating international trademark registration or want assistance using the fee calculator to develop your trademark strategy? Feel free to contact me and set up a consultation!
