The Chilean Patent and Trademark Office (INAPI) last week published its yearly annual report on occurred and upcoming IP developments in its country. The report enumerates several topics of which we want to highlight the following four, which may be of mayor interest to our clients:

This communication is to inform you that following Resolution No. 04/2015 issued by the Paraguayan Patent Office on April 6, 2015, payment of the examination fee shall now be compulsory for all patent applications within 3 years of filing.

This requirement was already contemplated according to Art. 25 of the Paraguayan Patent Law No. 1630/2000. However, in accordance with the Patent Office practice, payment was delayed until formal examination was completed. From now on, the examination fee must be paid within the mentioned 3-year term in all cases; otherwise the application shall be regarded as abandoned.

Resolution No. 136/2014, which refers to electronic certificate of registration was approved by the BPTO and became effective on 30 September 2014.

Pursuant this new resolution, all certificates of registration will be issued, exclusively, in digital format, upon electronic signature of the Certification Authority.

Unlike other trademark systems where there may be different bases for filing a trademark application. Mexican trademark applications make no distinction between intent to-use applications, use in commerce applications or any other type of possible basis for filing a trademark application.

However, the trademark application form gives the applicant the opportunity to declare the date of first use in commerce (if any).