A new Andean protocol, backed by Colombia, Ecuador and Peru which seeks expediting opposed trademark registrations in said countries, will be in effect starting March 1st.
This Protocol was a result of the meeting held by the USPTO administration program with the trademark directors of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru in Virginia between 06-10 February. This represents a giant leap in trademark registration processes in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, as well as providing legal certainty for distinctive sign owners in relation to their intangible asset protection in a transnational manner.
According to the protocol, Colombia’s trademark office (SIC), Peru’s trademark office (Indecopi) and Ecuador’s trademark office (Senadi) will have an officer acting as administrator and contact point between the countries in order to respond to trademark status requests having opposition in any of these countries, after the application for similar or identical trademark registration to the ones previously registered have been made.
