Class 46 has been going for a while now and it's quite old by blog standards, but it's still a baby compared with the Madrid System for international protection of trade marks, which this year commemorated the 125th anniversary of its founding treaty, the Madrid Agreement [some cynics might say that this isn't much to celebrate, since the original Agreement was little better than useless for the vast majority of countries on this planet -- but things really changed once the Protocol kick-started the real, modern processes that we nowadays are in danger of taking for granted]. During this landmark year, the Madrid System experienced its seventh consecutive year of growth, and a record number of international applications filed. Other notable achievements included:

• growing membership and commitment to accession by key trading markets including Brazil and Canada [and about time too!];
• the registration of mark number 1.3 million (a figurative representation of the word skinstudio);
• suspension of Articles 14(1) and (2)(a) of the Madrid Agreement, effectively creating a one-treaty system with a single set of rules under the Madrid Protocol; and
• redesigned e-services and new web content to support users throughout the lifecycle of their marks. 

Looking ahead to 2017, members and users can expect continued evolution in WIPO's online resources, including the launch of a new Member Profiles Database (Member Procedures), as well as additional information on how to use the Madrid System and Madrid e-services.