Trademark Opposition Proceedings Finally Aproved In Mexico

On April 28, 2016, the lower chamber of the Mexican Congress approved a long-awaited Decree, whereby some articles of the Mexican Industrial Property Law (IPL) were amended and new articles also introduced, pertaining to the implementation of a trademark opposition proceeding in Mexico (hereinafter "the Reform").

The Reform will come into force within the next 90 calendar days after it is published in the Federal Government Gazette.  The specific publication date is still unknown, since it will be necessary that the Tariff of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) is also amended to include the official fees for filing of or response to an opposition.

According to the Reform, all new applications filed in Mexico will be published for opposition purposes within the next 10 working days of the filing date to allow any third party who deems that a published application falls within the absolute or relative grounds of refusal as provided in Articles 4 and