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Protection of Intellectual Property in Guatemala

Thursday, June 12, 2014


 

The owners of trademarks and related intellectual property have better protection at a lower cost, since the adoption of new rules at the end of 2013.

So-called denomination of origin and geographical indication may also be registered and protected.

These terms mean that a product is made in one place, with special qualities.

The name "Champagne", one of the world's best known, for example refers to a particular grape, grown and aged in a particular place in France.

More than a hundred European names have been registered.

Trademarks, trade names and slogans can also be registered.

The law also explicitly rejects any claim of exclusive use of common words.
It was not clear from the previous Guatemalan jurisprudence, if a person can or cannot claim an exclusive right to the commercial use of these terms.

The new system has the additional advantages of being fast and cheap.

Registration fees are currently less than $100, a tenth of what they cost often under the previous regime.

For $20 a year, users also have access to real-time data, as well as the right to receive a weekly newsletter.

For more information, please contact Lic. Ninoshka Urrutia at [email protected], or (502) 2324-3939 o (502) 2279-3939.