BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- A Chinese company this week enabled the Madrid system for the international registration of trade marks to reach a milestone by registering the 900,000th mark, according to a report in MIP Week.

China is now the eighth largest user of the Madrid system, filing 1,057 international applications in the first nine months of 2006. It is also the most designated country in international trade mark applications, being listed on more than 40 percent of applications.

This increase in international trade mark filing activity by Chinese companies is mirrored by an increase in domestic applications. According to official statistics, Chinese residents filed 593,382 domestic applications in 2005.

At the present rate of growth, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) says that the one millionth mark under the Madrid system is expected to be reached in 2009.

(Agencies)