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COLOMBIA | Industrial Property | Colombia’s Patent and Trademark Office new online IP system is in completion stage: an improvement of its shortcomings is expected
As announced, on 18 July 2016 the new industrial property platform from the CPTO became operational, which includes a number of significant improvements that places it as one of the most modern systems in the world for the administration of Industrial Property affairs.
However, the new platform has experienced some problems that have generated setbacks for some users because the system, for example, (i) experiences flaws at the moment of filing, (ii) does not send notifications and (iii) all cases are not yet digitalized.
Should be noted that the CPTO is diligently working on solutions to the problems identified until now. It has also provided a helpdesk team ready to solve any problem, enabling an email address (mesadeservicios@sic.gov.co) plus telephone and online channels. More information available in this link.
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MEXICO | Patents, Regulatory, Competition | Mexican Antitrust Authority will analyze competition conditions in the market of pharmaceuticals having expired patents
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By means of Agreement CFCE-181-2016 (in Spanish), the Mexican Antitrust Authority (COFECE in Spanish) adopted the decision to undertake a study regarding conditions of economic competition and free-market of pharmaceuticals with lapsed patents, motivated by the importance of the pharmaceutical sector in the Mexican economy, the cost of pharmaceuticals for its users and the impact of these factors on Mexican health and quality of life.
The study will aim to guide possible recommendations and proposals to promote competition in the Mexican pharmaceutical industry, as well as identify and correct possible inefficiencies or market failures.
COFECE clarifies that the analysis is without prejudice to potential infringements of Mexican antitrust law.
In this link you can find more information.
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COLOMBIA | Patents | New round of invitations in Medellin Patent Fund is opened
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The innovation promotion entity Ruta N and the Colombian Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (COLCIENCIAS in Spanish) have opened a new call (denominated Fondo de Patentes or Patent Fund) to finance the protection of new inventions in an effort to encourage and promote their commercial exploitation based on scientific, technological and innovation projects.
The initiative is responsible for co-financing the preparation and filing of patents in Colombia for developments solving technical problems in all arts. It is aimed at inventors, universities and research centers domiciled in the Colombian department of Antioquia.
The program will finance 50-80% of the preparation and filing of a patent application. It is possible to apply until 26 August 2016. For more information, please see the following link.
COSTA RICA | Industrial Property | Costa Rica adopts WIPO’s Industrial Property Automation System
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On August 1st, 2016, the Costa Rican Industrial Property Office started to apply the Industrial Property Automation System (IPAS), developed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
IPAS allows the digitalization of industrial property searches and prosecution on trademarks and patents, and the WIPO offers it at no cost for requesting IP offices.
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COLOMBIA | Regulatory | Colombian Regulatory Authority now issues online receipts of payments of fees and fines
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From 1 August 2016, INVIMA enabled digital generation of payment receipts in (i) prosecution fees and (ii) fines, in order to speed up payment procedures.
In the following link you can find the instructions for accessing the service.
