Madrid Union

Madrid Union and the GATT Policy Negotiations

In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of Madrid Union: Formal name is the Madrid Agreement for the Repression of False or Deceptive Indications of Source on Goods. An international agreement, signed in 1891 and revised several times subsequently, concluded for the purpose of suppressing false or misleading origin markings on internationally traded goods. Signatories are obligated to seize and deny importation to merchandise bearing false markings indicating origin in any other signatory country. The agreement is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (Sec.III) and is open to all states adhering to the Paris Convention. See also commercial counterfeiting.