Next week is truly a big week for upgrading down official online services.  We have now learned the following information from our good friends at the World Intellectual Property Organization:

"  ... the Madrid Registry operations system will be upgraded on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, through the deployment of the new the Madrid International Registrations Information System (MIRIS). During the system upgrade period of March 17-23, there will be changes to our online services:

·       The Registry will not be updated –Madrid System customers may continue to consult ROMARIN, Madrid Real-Time Status, and Madrid Portfolio Manager during the upgrade period, but will access information reflecting the last update on March 17. Normal service will resume on March 23 and account for transactions submitted during the upgrade period.

·       Madrid E-Alert subscribers will not receive new notifications – Updates will resume on March 23 and include information on requests received during the upgrade period. Weekly notifications of March 17 and March 24 are expected to proceed as scheduled.

·       Madrid System customers may continue to submit requests through our E-Services (E-Renewal, E-Payment, E-Subsequent Designation and Madrid Portfolio Manager) but transactions will be processed in MIRIS after March 23. These transactions will bear their original date of receipt by WIPO.

A news item has been posted on the WIPO website to keep customers abreast of these changes and informative banners have been added to each affected online service.

Thank you for your continued cooperation and collaboration, and please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or comments".