Newsletter - Latin America IP SME Helpdesk

We just released a new country factsheet detailing the essential aspects of intellectual property rights in Brazil.

Check out our factsheet, a comprehensive document covering all intellectual property related issues you should know before doing business in the country.

Our new factograph delves into main intellectual property particularities in Ecuador.

In addition to IP Country factsheet, we have now a new factograph available providing insights into the intellectual property system in Dominican Republic.

Take a look at our new factograph to learn more about the main intellectual property particularities in Peru!

El Salvador has been undergoing a wave of transformative changes recently, capturing global attention with initiatives like adopting Bitcoin as legal tender and investing in technological innovation. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the European Union (EU) looking to expand into Latin America, this new law offers exciting opportunities and some important considerations. Read our new blog post to learn more about the new regulation!

Wonderbow Games, a board game publisher founded by Laia Gonzalez and Sönke Schmidt, specializes in creating games in both English and German. The Latin America IP SME Helpdesk team recently interviewed Laia Gonzalez, Wonderbow's founder, to learn from her journey and experiences in the industry. If your company is considering publishing or creating a board game, be sure to check out Laia's insights in this interview!

In April, the Supreme Court of Colombia ruled that the "must carry" obligation - the requirement for subscription television operators to transmit free-to-air television signals free of charge - does not constitute an exception or limitation to copyright. Additionally, the Superior Court of Justice of Bogotá has overturned a conviction against an audiovisual producer for using three paintings from a series, potentially allowing for more flexible criteria in production authorisations.

The Global Innovation Index (GII) ranks the world's top economies by their innovation capabilities. A common trait among the highest-ranking countries is the presence of strong science and technology (S&T) clusters. Brazil stands as the only Latin American country with an S&T cluster ranked in the top 100. Beyond this, other middle-income economies in the region, like Argentina and Mexico, also make the extended list with notable science and technology clusters in Buenos Aires and Mexico City, respectively.

Uruguay's accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is now a reality. The National Directorate of Intellectual Property (DINAPI) has announced that, on 7 October, the country will deposit its instrument of accession with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the last step to formalise entry into the treaty. The agreement will enter into force three months later, on 7 January 2025.

In June, the Peruvian government published a new regulation that sets severe penalties for those who buy or sell authorship of scientific publications. National Institute for the Defense of Free Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) published the "Advertising Guide for Influencers", an advisory document designed to promote responsible advertising on digital platforms, while emphasising the importance of respecting copyright.

Web Summit is one of the largest tech conferences in the world. It is held annually and brings together tens of thousands of attendees - founders CEOs of technology companies and fast-growing startups, policymakers, and heads of state - all interested in the future of technology. The International IP SME Helpdesks will attend the event and provide assistance to companies who have questions about intellectual property (IP) protection. Additionally, on 14 November, the representatives of the Helpdesks will present the projects and services to the audience.

IVACE+i International, the Chambers of Commerce of the Valencian Community and ICEX Spain Export and Investment are joining forces for the ninth edition of the reference event "Go Global". Latin America IP SME Helpdesk team will attend the event to provide support to companies from the Valencian Community in their internationalisation processes, helping them to avoid risks and raising awareness on the benefits of protecting their intellectual property rights abroad.

The Latin America IP SME Helpdesk will be present at the event ‘’Protection and Management of Intellectual Property in Panama and Central America for Spanish and European SMEs‘’, organised by the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Panama, to provide free-of-charge workshop to Spanish and European companies interested and active in doing business in Panama.

National Institute for the Defense of Free Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) and the Latin America IP SME Helpdesk have the pleasure to invite you to this webinar with the aim to provide an in-depth understanding of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in the context of collaborative commercial relationships, focusing on the registration process, key challenges in Peru, and best practices for protecting innovations, brands, and other forms of intellectual property.

Pollutec is the premier trade show for environmental and waste management, providing visitors an in-depth look at solutions for waste and water management, air quality, sustainable cities, and more. Pollutec 2024 will host a strong contingent of international decision-makers and investors, creating a dynamic platform to accelerate green and renewable energy start-ups.The Latin America IP SME Helpdesk will be there to provide jargon-free, first-line, confidential advice on intellectual property and related issues to small and medium enterprises and start-ups from European and Single Market Programme associated countries.