Some aspects of the trademark legislation in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay Paraguay and Uruguay Jorge Otamendi, G. Breuer Barcelona, June 2010 I thank Carlos Henrique de C. Fróes, Fróes, Luna & Advogados (Brazil); Hugo T. Berkemeyer, Berkemeyer Attorneys and Counselors (Paraguay); Rodrigo Velasco Alessandri & Cia (Chile); Berkemeyer Attorneys and Counselors (Paraguay); Rodrigo Velasco, Alessandri & Cia (Chile); and Juan E. Vanrell, Bacot & Bacot (Uruguay) for their help in preparing this presentation.
Transcript
Some aspects of the trademark legislation in Argentina, Brazil, Chile,
Paraguay and UruguayParaguay and Uruguay
Jorge Otamendi, G. Breuer
Barcelona, June 2010
I thank Carlos Henrique de C. Fróes, Fróes, Luna & Advogados (Brazil); Hugo T. Berkemeyer, Berkemeyer Attorneys and Counselors (Paraguay); Rodrigo Velasco Alessandri & Cia (Chile);Berkemeyer Attorneys and Counselors (Paraguay); Rodrigo Velasco, Alessandri & Cia (Chile); and Juan E. Vanrell, Bacot & Bacot (Uruguay) for their help in preparing this presentation.
1 Filing requirements1. Filing requirements.
2 Oppositions2. Oppositions.
3 R l3. Renewals.
4. Trademark use.
The Law and the International Treaty
COMMON REQUIREMENTS.application and data- application and data
- domestic languageinternational classification- international classification
- priorityd t ti- empowered representatives
- formal examination
The Law and the International Treaty (cont.)
COMMON REQUIREMENTS (cont).CO O QU S (co t)- publication- substantive examination- terms. Consecutive or business days. Month-year- notifications:
- Brazil, Chile and Paraguay: Personal notification.- Argentina: Official Trademark Gazette notification.- Uruguay: If unable to notify in person, Official Trademark Gazette notification.
Requirements
FEES.
-Argentina: Yes.
- Chile: Yes.
Parag a Yes An e ception is a ailable to- Paraguay: Yes. An exception is available tothose who lack financial capacity (undersworn affidavit).sworn affidavit).
- Uruguay: Yes.
- Brazil: Yes. There is a 60% discount for smallbusiness entrepreneursbusiness entrepreneurs.
Requirements (cont.)
- Electronic Filing: Chile and Brazil.
- Multiclass filing: Chile and Uruguay.
Requirements (cont.)
APPLICANT.
- Argentina: Any individual with legitimateinterest.interest.
- Brazil: Any individual or legal entity. Thereb l i b h b i bmust be a relation between the business to be
conducted and the products or services to becovered Individuals must certify the activitiescovered. Individuals must certify the activitiesconducted by them.
- Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay: Any individualor legal entity.
Requirements (cont.)DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.
- Brazil: Only products and services includedin the applicant’s activity.
- Argentina and Uruguay: Whole class withoutthe need of exordiumthe need of exordium.
- Chile: Whole class with exordium.
- Paraguay: Products: whole class without thed f di S i ifi ti ineed of exordium. Services: specification is
required.
Requirements (cont.)PUBLICATION.
- Brazil: Once in the Trademark Bulletin.
- Uruguay: Once in the Intellectual Property- Uruguay: Once in the Intellectual PropertyOfficial Trademark Gazette.
- Paraguay: Three times in the regularnewspapers or in the Intellectual Property OfficialTrademark Gazette when it is editedTrademark Gazette, when it is edited.
- Argentina: Once in the Official TrademarkArgentina: Once in the Official TrademarkGazette.
Chil O i th Offi i l G tt- Chile: Once in the Official Gazette.
Requirements (cont.)PUBLICATION (cont.)
Argentina
Requirements (cont.)PUBLICATION (cont.)
Brazil
Requirements (cont.)PUBLICATION (cont.)
Chile
Requirements (cont.)PUBLICATION (cont.)
Uruguay
Requirements (cont.)PUBLICATION (cont.)
Paraguay
Terms for Granting in the absence of O iti d Ob tiOppositions and Observations
- Argentina: 1 year as of filing.
- Brazil: 3 to 4 years
- Chile: 4 months.
- Paraguay: 3 months.
- Uruguay: 1 year.
Oppositions
TERM.
- Brazil: 60 days as of publication (60 days toanswer; failing which application lapses).
- Argentina: 30 days as of publication.
- Uruguay: 30 days as of publication.
- Paraguay: 60 business days as ofpublication.
- Chile: 30 days as of publication.
Oppositions (cont.)
WHO DECIDES.
- Brazil: INPI.
- Argentina: The courts.
- Paraguay: INPI.
- Uruguay: DPI.
Chil I t ll t l P t D t t- Chile: Intellectual Property Department.
Oppositions (cont.)GROUNDS FOR OPPOSITION.
Conditions to oppose:
- Brazil: Legal arguments.
- Argentina: Genuine interest.
U Di t i t t- Uruguay: Direct interest.
Paraguay: Grounded writ- Paraguay: Grounded writ.
- Chile: Any interest- Chile: Any interest.
Oppositions (cont.)
NOTIFICATION OF THE OPPOSITION.
- Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay;Personal notification.Personal notification.
- Argentina: Official Trademark Gazettegnotification.
U If bl t tif i- Uruguay: If unable to notify in person,Official Trademark Gazette notification.
Oppositions (cont.)
APPEAL.
- Administrative: All countries.
- Judicial: All countries.
Oppositions (cont.)
LETTERS OF CONSENT.
Letters of consent are accepted in Argentina,Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, but their valueChile, Paraguay and Uruguay, but their valuedepends on the similarity of the marks. Very closemarks will not be accepted despite the consent.
Not accepted in Brazil.
RenewalUSE REQUIREMENT.
- Only in Argentina, filing of sworn affidavit.
- Chile: No.
U N- Uruguay: No.
Parag a No- Paraguay: No.
Renewal (cont.)TERM TO APPLY THE RENEWAL.
- Chile: Before the expiration date or 30 days after.
P Withi l t f d ti ithi 6- Paraguay: Within last year of duration, or within 6months after expiration with payment of fee.
- Argentina: 3 months prior to the expiration date.
- Uruguay: 6 months and a grace period of 6months.
- Brazil: During the prior year, grace period of 6h i h f fmonths with payment of fees.
Renewal (cont.)GRANTING DATE OF THE RENEWAL.
- Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil: Theexpiration date of the prior registrationexpiration date of the prior registration.
- Argentina: The granting date of the renewalArgentina: The granting date of the renewal.
Trademark useUSE OBLIGATION.
-Argentina: Use within the country in the marketingof a product or service. Use as a trade name and
f i l d t i l i iuse for a single product or a single service, even indifferent classes or of non-registered marks, issufficient for all identical registered trademarkssufficient for all identical registered trademarks.
- Brazil: Use is valid only for the product orBrazil: Use is valid only for the product orservice, and for those similar or related.
Trademark use (cont.)
USE OBLIGATION (cont.).
-Paraguay: Use in the market in the quantity andmanner that corresponds due to the nature of thepproducts or services, their marketing and size ofthe market. Use in advertising is considered use ifeffective use takes place within 4 months Use ineffective use takes place within 4 months. Use inany class is sufficient. Use effected in any countrysatisfies the obligation. (Established by the Rulingsat s es t e ob gat o ( stab s ed by t e u gDecree).
Trademark use (cont.)
USE OBLIGATION (cont.).
- Uruguay: There is no use obligation. A decree ofthe E.P. could establish it.
Chil Th i bli ti- Chile: There is no use obligation.
Trademark use (cont.)
CONSEQUENCES OF NON-USE.
- Argentina: Lapsing.
- Paraguay: Lapsing.
- Brazil: Total or partial lapsing.
C- Chile and Uruguay: There is no consequence.
Trademark use (cont.)
TERMS OF USE.
- Argentina: 5 years prior to the starting of thejudicial action.j
- Brazil and Paraguay: 5 years as from grantingd t i t ti f th 5date, no interruption for more than 5 years.
Trademark use (cont.)
JUSTIFICATION FOR NON-USE.
- Argentina and Paraguay: Force majeure.
- Brazil: Justification for the non-use.
Trademark use (cont.)ALTERATION OF THE TRADEMARK.
- Argentina: Ruled by the Paris Convention.
- Brazil: Use that “does not imply alteration of itsdistinctive original character”.
-Paraguay: The use “with significant alterations ofits distinctive original character” is not validits distinctive original character is not valid.
Trademark use (cont.)WHO MUST PROVE THE USE.
- Argentina: The party that claims non-use. However,if the owner of the trademark fails to prove use, non-
ill lik l b d i f t h lluse will likely be presumed, so in fact, owner shallhave to prove use.
-Brazil and Paraguay: The owner of the trademark.
Trademark use (cont.)WHO DECLARES THE LAPSING.
- Argentina and Paraguay: The courts.
- Brazil: The INPI.
International Treaties vs. Local Law
- Argentina and Paraguay: The international- Argentina and Paraguay: The internationaltreaty prevails.
- Uruguay: Same level, latter prevails overprior.
- Chile and Brazil: No decision yet as to whichone prevailsone prevails.
