Mexico Becomes International Patent Authority, Boosting Innovation Protection

Mexico has achieved a significant milestone by becoming an international authority for patent searches and preliminary examinations, placing it among only 26 countries globally with this capability. This designation by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a major boost for innovation and intellectual property protection within Mexico and the broader Spanish-speaking world, as Mexico is now one of only four nations where patent applications can be processed in Spanish.

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Mexico achieved being part of the list of the 26 countries where international searches and preliminary international examination of patent applications can be carried out.

Vidal Llerenas, Director General of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI), announced the achievement from Geneva, Switzerland. He explained that Mexico earned this distinction by meeting WIPO's stringent certifications, technical standards, and operational quality requirements. This allows any country to utilize IMPI as an examination and search office for patent applications.

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So, in order to handle the requests for search and preliminary examination, IMPI is in the process of hiring 500 people who will join the Institute's current staff, and they will be trained in the area of technology and intellectual property.

To manage the anticipated increase in requests, IMPI is undertaking a major expansion of its workforce. The institute is in the process of hiring 500 new employees who will receive specialized training in technology and intellectual property. Llerenas anticipates that this staff augmentation will lead to reduced processing times and enhanced service quality, reflecting WIPO's recognition of IMPI's long-standing efforts to bolster intellectual property protection.

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Thanks to all of this, any country will be able to use Mexico as an examination and search office; that is, you can ask IMPI to search if a patent has already been granted and, most importantly, you can carry out the preliminary examination of a patent that counts for the rest of the world's agencies that have this certification.

This development is expected to provide greater solidity to patent preliminary examinations. Llerenas highlighted that the IMPI's consolidated certifications and processes will underpin the reliability of these examinations. The appointment was approved by consensus at the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Union Assembly during WIPO's General Assemblies, reaffirming Mexico's commitment to fostering innovation and technological development.

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Through this decision, the Institute reaffirms its contribution to the strengthening of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, promoting high-quality services that favor innovation, the protection of inventions, and technological development in Mexico, the region, and the world.