INTA Presents Its Economic Impact Study in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Guatemala

INTA and the Asociación Interamericana de la Propiedad Intelectual (ASIPI) published a joint study, Trademarks in Latin America: Economic Impact in 10 Latin America and Caribbean Countries, in October last year. The report covers Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. The 10 countries were selected because they account for nearly 90 percent of the region’s combined GDP, and the levels of trademark activity differs from country to country.

Since its launch, INTA and ASIPI have taken advantage of numerous opportunities to present the report findings to government officials through Latin America.

On January 22, 2020, INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo, together with Marco Palacios (Palacios & Asociados, Guatemala), representing the Asociación Interamericana de la Propiedad Intelectual (ASIPI), presented the findings of their organizations’ joint study, Trademarks in Latin America: Economic Impact in 10 Latin America and Caribbean Countries, in Costa Rica.

In Costa Rica, trademark-intensive sectors contribute 42 percent to the country’s GDP, which equates to US $24.5 billion, according to the report. That percentage of contribution is the highest of all the countries studied, and is well above the 22 percent average in the region. The report also reveals a 36 percent contribution to employment in Costa Rica, meaning that for every three jobs, one is in a trademark-intensive sector.

Both associations were pleased to have the opportunity to present the study to some of the Costa Rica’s top government officials, including those from the Ministry of Justice, customs, and the trademark office, especially given the incredibly positive study findings as they related to the Costa Rican economy.

As a result of the meetings, INTA has been invited to provide recommendations of topics and best practices to be included in the development of the New Costa Rican National IP Strategy.

During the same week, INTA Chief Representative Officer, Latin America and the Caribbean Office, José Luis Londoño, visited Colombia to meet with the Interministerial IP Commission and Executive Council on Competitiveness. The meeting was well-timed, as Colombia is currently drafting its own national IP Policy, and this month the Colombian government will begin consultations with the private sector and other stakeholders. Mr. Londoño presented both the Latin America economic impact study and INTA’s attitudinal study Gen Z Insights: Brands and Counterfeit Products.

In addition, on January 23 and 24, 2020, representatives from ASIPI and INTA presented the Latin America economic impact study before representatives of Guatemala’s Ministry of Economy, customs, and the Supreme Court.

New Intellectual Property Laws and Governance Coming in 2020

In the coming year, Latin America will see new intellectual property (IP) laws come into effect in more than a few countries. There are also new bills under discussion in Chile, Mexico, and Uruguay.

In addition, the Ecuadorean government has been inviting stakeholders, including INTA, to a series of workshops to discuss modifications to the Organic Code of Social Economic Knowledge, Creativity and Innovation (known as the “Código de Ingenios” or Ingenios Code).

The Peruvian IP Office has put forward a reform to some enforcement provisions in order to enhance its enforcement system.

In addition, the Argentinian IP Office has appointed a new president, and in the next few months, the Uruguayan government will announce changes to its IP office, while the Colombian IP Office will appoint a new Deputy for Industrial Property Matters and new directors to oversee trademarks and patents respectively.

INTA’s Latin America and the Caribbean Representative Office, based in Santiago, Chile, represents the Association’s 716 members across the region. Working in collaboration with staff at INTA’s headquarters in New York City, the Latin America and the Caribbean Representative Office leads the Association’s policy, membership, marketing, and communications initiatives throughout this region. To learn more about INTA’s activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, please contact INTA Chief Representative Officer of the Latin America and the Caribbean Office José Luis Londoño at [email protected].

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of items in the INTA Bulletin, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.