The U.S. has been moving toward ratification of the Madrid Protocol and might become a member in 2001. Ratification would enable filing an international application with the USPTO by the owner of a U.S. application or registration, provided that the owner is a U.S. national or domiciliary or has a real and effective industrial or commercial establishment in the U.S. It would also mean that applicants in other member countries could designate the U.S. as a country where they seek national protection pursuant to the Protocol.