Notorious marks are those well-known in the specific sector of
the public for which said products, services, or activities are
intended, and are used to identify and protect such brands.
Renowned brands are widely known by the general public.
Both notorious marks and renowned brands must maintain high
commercial traffic to obtain the fame and prestige that
characterize them, and this requires a large investment of time,
resources, and publicity by their owners.
The concept of a renowned brand is not regulated in Decision 486
of the Andean Community; in a preliminary interpretation, its Court
of Justice recognized renowned brands to be those that are known by
the general public, outside of merely the relevant sector. As a
result, such brands completely break with the principles of
registration, territoriality, and specialty, protecting them over
all products or services, as opposed to a notorious mark.