GENEVA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- 2011 saw the highest number of international trademark applications filed, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) said on Monday.

According to WIPO figures, 42,270 applications were made last year, an increase of 6.5 percent compared to 2010.

The top three parties that filed the most applicatons were the European Union, Germany and the United States. China stood at seventh place with 2,149 applications.

China remained the most designated member for trademark protection, followed by the EU, the U.S., Russia and Switzerland.

WIPO's Madrid system offers a trademark owner the possibility of having a mark protected in up to 85 countries by filing one application in either English, French or Spanish. When submitting an international application, applicants must designate contracting parties in which they want their mark to be protected.

(Source: Xinhua)