New Opposition/Cancellation Provisions And Covid-19 Update

The Venezuelan Intellectual Property Office (SAPI) published a series of official decisions via an official communication on February 7, 2020, that introduced new procedures for trademark oppositions and non-use cancellation actions in Venezuela. A summary of these provisions follows:

Adoption of the 11^th edition of the Nice International Classification of Goods and Services

The most integral change implemented by SAPI is the adoption of the Nice International Classification of Goods and Services which will eventually affect all trademark procedures across the board including trademark oppositions and non-use cancellation actions.

The change is important since it will mean that the national classification under the Industrial Property Law will no longer apply. Since 2008, when Venezuela exited the Andean Pact and reinstated its outdated Industrial Property Law of 1956, Venezuela followed a dual-classification system to accommodate both the local classification