Jersey: International Law

The World Intellectual Property Organization has announced that Jersey will introduce individual fees for Madrid Protocol designations from August 2026, requiring businesses to pay jurisdiction-specific charges when seeking international trade mark protection. This procedural change coincides with Jersey's new standalone trade mark registration system, fundamentally altering how brand owners must approach protection strategies in the jurisdiction.

From August 2026, Jersey will operate as an independent designation under the Madrid System for international trade mark protection, ending its automatic coverage through UK designations. This reform introduces new procedural requirements, including separate fees and declarations of intent to use, while establishing Jersey's own trade mark registry. Rights holders must now actively include Jersey in their filing strategies to avoid gaps in protection across the Crown Dependencies.

Jersey's Control of Borrowing regime undergoes significant modernization, narrowing regulatory consent requirements and simplifying the framework for professional, institutional, and private capital structures.