Fees associated with Mexican PCT national phase entry as well as other patent fees are available in the fee calculator.
-
Deadline for PCT national phase entry in Mexico
The time limit for the PCT national phase entry in Mexico is 30 months from the date of priority. Restoration of this term is not possible.
-
Filing requirements in Mexico
A translation of the international application into Spanish is required. The initial patent application can be filed in any other language, however the Patent Office will issue an office action requesting the translation within two months.
To obtain the date of filing, a PCT national phase patent application in Mexico should contain: signed application, technical documents (background of the invention, description, summary, claims) in any language, drawings, copy of the International Publication, copy of the International Search Report, copy of the International Application Status Report and the receipt of payment of government fees.
A simple signed Power of Attorney must be provided with the application. However, late filing of this document is allowed within two months after the filing date should the Patent Office issue an office action requesting such a document. The POA must be signed by the person who grants it and two witnesses. Certification and legalisation of this document are not required.
Priority Document is not required for the PCT National Phase entry in Mexico.
-
Examination of a PCT national phase patent application in Mexico
Patent applications in Mexico undergo formal and substantive examinations. Substantive examination is initiated automatically. No special request or fee is required.
In Mexico, the novelty grace period constitutes 12 months before the Mexican filing date or before the priority date if the inventor or the successor to his rights or any third party who obtained the information about invention from the inventor/successor has made the invention known by any means of communication, by having displayed it at a national or international exhibition.
-
Grant, validity term and maintenance fees
Patents in Mexico are valid for 20 years from the international filing date. The grant fee, along with the annuities for the calendar year in which the patent is granted and the subsequent four years, must be paid within two months from receiving the Notice of Allowance. The succeeding annuities should be paid every five years before the expiry of the anniversary of the international filing date. Late payment is possible within six months after the due date provided that a surcharge is paid.
-
Duration of registration procedure
It takes an average of 4 years from filing to granting of a patent in Mexico.
It is possible to obtain utility model protection in Mexico through the PCT National phase. Utility model requirements are less stringent than for patents - novelty must be present, however an inventive step is not a necessity. Applications undergo both formal and substantive examination. As of November 5, 2020 the term for a utility model in Mexico is 15 years from the date of filing in Mexico, which is non-renewable. For those utility models registered before said date it is possible to prolong the validity term up to additional 5 years by way of paying the corresponding annuities within 6 months prior to expiration of 10 year validity term.
-
Representation by a patent attorney
For foreign patent applicants, it is necessary to perform patent prosecution in Mexico through a patent attorney or agent practicing in Mexico.
1. Online search database for Mexican Patents.
2. After a period of 18 months from the international filing date or the priority date, the application is published in the Industrial Property Gazette. It is possible to request earlier publication for patents, but this option is not available for utility models.
Brief summary is based on the information provided by WIT LAW AND BUSINESS CONSULTANTS on 09.02.2024
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with Mexican IP Laws