Drastic patent fee increases planned under draft law

Drastic patent fee increases planned under draft law

The Uruguayan government recently sent a draft budgetary law for the period of 2015-2020 to the Parliament that includes increases of up to 900 percent for patent fees. This draft law, currently under evaluation, involves also some increases for trademark fees for the National Directorate of Industrial Property (DINAPI).

Article 322 of the draft law contains the proposal for increasing some trademark fees. Other fees remain unchanged (i.e. deed of transfer), while the filing fees are set to increase in the range of approximately 28 to 50 percent.

Article 323 of the draft law contains the proposal regarding patent fees, which involves a drastic increase. The patent application (up to 10 claims) and substantive examination fees would increase 900 percent over the current fees. For each additional claim, it is proposed an increase of 570 percent over current fees, and for annuity fees between 6 to 12 times the current values.

The parliamentary procedure, which started on August 31, 2015, can take between 90 and 120 days, and if the draft law is adopted, the new fees will be applicable from the first day of the following month after the enactment of the law.

We will keep you informed about any updates as they arise.

Source: http://www.parlamento.gub.uy