Trademark News: What you might have missed in March 2026

Stay informed with our comprehensive roundup of the past month's headlines, all neatly compiled for you in one convenient post. Catch up on the latest news reported by the Kluwer IP Reporter.

Argentina, U.S. ink trade-related pact with IP reform commitments

On 5 February 2026, Argentina and the United States signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment, which includes commitments by Argentina to modernise its intellectual property (IP) framework.

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Bahrain extends legalized IP documents submission time

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Bahrain has provided a temporary three-month extension for submitting legalized documents in industrial property applications due to exceptional circumstances.

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Brazil updates trademark priority examination rules

The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office introduced new regulations in early 2026 expanding eligibility and clarifying procedures for priority examination of trademark applications.

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Chile adopts 13th edition of Nice Classification

The National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI) in Chile adopted the 2026 version of the 13th edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification) with effect from 1 January 2026 and made it mandatory for all trademark application filed from that date.

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EUIPO backs Operation Shield VI against fake medicines

Europol-led Operation SHIELD VI, supported by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), resulted in the seizure of EUR 32 million in counterfeit medicines and doping substances across 30 European countries from April to November 2025.

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EU Council adopts Mercosur agricultural safeguards

The Council of the European Union adopted a regulation to implement bilateral safeguard clauses for agricultural products under the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement and Interim Trade Agreement.

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Hong Kong updates Trade Marks Registry Work Manual chapters

On 16 March 2026, the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) of Hong Kong has revised several chapters of the Trade Marks Registry Work Manual during 2026 to reflect updates in electronic filing and classification practices.

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India relocates well-known trademarks section

In accordance with the Gazette Notification of 25 February 2025 regarding shifting of its headquarters, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs Trade Marks (CGPDTM) in India has relocated the Well-Known Trade Marks Section to New Delhi from its previous location at Mumbai.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Australia

Under the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 notified the revised individual fees applicable when Australia is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Bahrain

Pursuant to the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 notified the individual fees applicable when Bahrain is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of an international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Bulgaria

In line with the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization announced on 16 February 2026 the revised individual fees payable when Bulgaria is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of an international registration or is a subject of a subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for China

Based on the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 notified the individual fees applicable when China is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of an international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Curaçao

On 12 March 2026, the World Intellectual Property Organization notified revised individual fees payable under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks when Curaçao is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Estonia

Pursuant to the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 notified the modified individual fees payable when Estonia is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Indonesia

Under the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 notified revised individual fees applicable when Indonesia is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Japan

Pursuant to the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 notified revised individual fees applicable when Japan is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Kenya

Pursuant to the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Protocol Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 notified the modified individual fees payable when Kenya is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for OAPI

Pursuant to the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 announced the revised amounts of individual fees applicable when the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Pakistan

Pursuant to the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization has notified the amounts of individual fees applicable when Pakistan is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Philippines

In accordance with the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 notified the revised individual fees, in Swiss francs, payable when the Philippines is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for South Korea

In accordance with the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 announced changes to the individual fees payable when the Republic of Korea is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of an international registration or is a subject of a subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Tunisia

Under the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization has notified revised individual fees applicable when Tunisia is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for U.S.

In accordance with the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization announced on 12 March 2026 revised the individual fees payable when the United States is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Ukraine

Pursuant to the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization has notified the revised amounts of individual fees applicable when Ukraine is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Madrid Protocol fees revised for Uzbekistan

Under the provisions of the Common Regulations under the Madrid Agreement and Protocol concerning the International Registration of Marks, the World Intellectual Property Organization on 12 March 2026 notified the revised individual fees applicable when the Uzbekistan is designated in an international application or in an application for renewal of international registration or is a subject of subsequent designation.

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Oman updates trademark renewal procedures

The Omani Trademark Office has recently introduced new renewal procedures for trademarks due in 2026, requiring amendments where specifications include goods affected by Nice Classification updates.

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Qatar adopts 13th edition of Nice Classification

The Trademark Office in Qatar has adopted the 2026 version of the 13th edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification) with immediate effect, requiring all new trademark applications to use this updated version for goods and services classification.

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Qatar extends trademark deadlines during remote operations

The Intellectual Property Rights Protection Department in Qatar has introduced temporary adjustments to trademark filing procedures and deadlines due to its shift to remote operations.

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Romania shifts to digital trademark certificates

On 17 December 2025 the Romanian Patent and Trade Mark Office decided to issue trademark registration and renewal certificates electronically from January 2026 for applications and requests where an email address is provided.

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Russia mandates marketplace trademark integration

Russia has recently announced that major online marketplaces in Russia must connect to the Russian Trademark Register starting April 2026 to allow quicker and automatic handling of trademark violations.

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Tanzania court finds ARIPO marks unenforceable

The Tanzanian Court of Appeal has recently affirmed the lower court’s decision in the case of Lakairo Industries v. Kenafric Industries, holding that trademarks issued by African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) designating Tanzania have no legal effect in the country unless the Banjul Protocol has been domesticated into national law.

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UAE trademark office grants extension for legalised POA submission

The Trademark Office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a 30-day extension for submitting legalized Powers of Attorney (POA) in trademark applications that include an undertaking, due to regional challenges currently affecting courier services.

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UK Supreme Court bars "POST MILK GENERATION" mark

On 11 February 2026, the UK Supreme Court in Dairy UK Ltd. v. Oatly AB affirmed the Court of Appeal's decision and concluded that the "POST MILK GENERATION" trademark was invalid because its use violated restrictions on the designation “milk” under Regulation (EU) 1308/2013.

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