OM Weekly Digest (12-01-2018)
January 12 2018

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COLOMBIA | Trademarks, Patents | Suspension of procedures by problems in the Colombian Patent and Trademark Office Digital Platform

Due to problems in the Digital Platform (SIPI in Spanish) of the Colombian Patent and Trademark Office (SIC in Spanish), industrial property prosecution deadlines were suspended on 4 and 5 January 2018.

The problems have been since the last week of 2017, due to failures in the storage system.

 

 

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BRAZIL | Patents | Brazil has new Guidelines for Examination of Patent Applications in Chemistry

On 27 December 2017 -and by means of Resolution 208/2017-, the Brazilian Patent Office (INPI in Portuguese) issued the Guidelines for the Examination of Patent Applications in Chemistry, which complement the contents of the Blocks I and II (Resolutions 124/2013 and 169/2016) of the General Guidelines for Patent Examination.

Resolution 208/2017 must be applied in conjunction with Blocks I and II contest, and since 2 January 2018 revoked the 2002 Guidelines in Biotechnology and Pharmacy (which was also applicable for chemistry inventions).

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COLOMBIA | Regulatory | Colombian Regulatory Authority creates a streamlined procedure for “Competing Medicines” Marketing Approval

The Colombian Regulatory Authority (INVIMA in Spanish) announced the implementation of an expedited procedure for registration of medicines entering in the Colombian market as direct competitors of pharmaceuticals on which there is a monopoly or duopoly.  The foregoing, with the objective of reducing anti-competitive effects in the market.

According to INVIMA, the decision will reduce registration times (as well as the price of medicines in favor of consumers).

For more information, please visit the following link.

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COLOMBIA | Lawsuits | End of Judicial Vacancy in Colombia

Further to a previous OM Weekly Digest edition, Judicial Deadlines for judicial procedures in Colombia were resumed on 11 January 2017.

The foregoing, considering the end of collective vacations for judicial officials.

 

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PERU | Antitrust | Peru: Liquefied Gas Cartel was unmounted

On 7 December 2017, the Peruvian Antitrust Authority (INDECOPI in Spanish) sanctioned 16 fuel distribution companies with more than USD $ 3.15 millions, due to competition restrictive practices by establishing a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cartel.

The involved companies -which implemented a secret price agreement for LPG sales between June 2012 and February 2014- operated through coordinated actions between employees and service stations (including the Ancash Costa Service Stations Association).

Along with the sanction, INDECOPI ordered the adoption of a Competition Compliance Program for the involved companies.

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EUROPEAN UNION | Trademarks | EUIPO warns about Brexit effects on Trademarks

On 1 December 2017, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) issued a statement about Brexit consequences for titleholders of Community registered trademarks in the European Union and United Kingdom.

In its statement, established that unless an agreement is reached -which is currently being negotiated- Community trademarks and will have no effect in the United Kingdom after 30 March 2019.  EUIPO also warns that the same will apply for UK seniority claim (which will no longer have effect in a EU trademark).

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