Intellectual Properties
• Generalities: Law No. 35 of 1996 created the current Intellectual Property regime in Panama, under which inventions and utility models, industrial sketches and models, industrial and commercial secrets, and trademarks and commercial names are protected. This regime was made compatible with the numerous international treaties concerning Intellectual Property in order to provide the millions of manufacturers and service providers who do business through Panama a secure and reliable system which will protect their trademarks and inventions.
Essential Characteristics
• Availability: The DIGERPI's (General Department of Intellectual Property Registration) systems allows for a quick and easy search for the availability of any trademark.
• Classification: Panama uses the International Classification of Nice.
• Famous and Notorious Trademarks: The Law recognizes and protects famous and notorious trademarks.
• Protection: The trademark registration is granted for a period of 10 years, renewable indefinitely for equal periods.
• Opposition and Cancellation: Before a registration is granted each trademark is published in a bulletin and subject to opposition by anyone who may allege a better right over the trademark; in the same manner, after the registration is granted, a third party may allege a better right over any trademark may request the cancellation of its registration.
• Official Solicitor: In cases in which the request for registration of a trademark is considered urgent the Law allows for an Official Solicitor to request the trademark and the authenticity of the owner of the trademark may be proven subsequently.
|
