National offices make the decision
In most cases, a trademark is registered by the intellectual property or trademark office of the country where protection is sought. These offices may be government agencies or quasi-governmental bodies. Their job is to examine each application, confirm that it meets the legal requirements, and grant the trademark rights.
Examples
- United States: the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- European Union: the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
Other countries have comparable offices of their own.
International filings
If you need protection in several countries, the Madrid Protocol lets you file and manage your application through one central process. Even so, each country's office still has to approve the trademark on its own.