Chilean PTO's Consolidation As PCT ISA/IPEA

Since October 2014, the Chilean National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI) has been working as a competent International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) for patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Additionally, since January 1, 2018, INAPI can also issue international search reports and international preliminary patentability reports both in Spanish and English.

The following 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries have designated the INAPI as PCT ISA/IPEA: Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago.

During 2018, 380 applicants — half of which were non-Chilean applicants — designated the INAPI as ISA. This shows an increase of 45% over 2017. Almost half of the patent applications designating INAPI as ISA since 2014 have been in the mechanical field.