Paraguay, new developments in the field of Intellectual Property

By Antonio Villa Berkemeyer, Berkemeyer Attorneys & Counselors

The most significant developments were observed on February 10, 2010, when the Supreme Court of Justice approved the intervention of Supervisory Judge of Asuncion, Specialized in Economic Crimes, on cases of Intellectual Property Rights infringements.

It was the first time that Paraguay ordered the creation of a Specialized Unit to intervene in cases of intellectual property rights infringements. Nevertheless, these cases are limited to criminal cases only.

Other significant developments that deserve special attention are the efforts made in the search and elaboration of strategies, new regulations and restructuring to achieve general, functional and operational goals. In such sense, the Supreme Court of Justice ordered the creation of a new Direction that will fight crimes against intellectual property rights.

The Direction will depend on the Supreme Court of Justice and will be formed by a Director, two administrative technicians and two administrative assistants. Among their main responsibilities are: training of judicial, administrative and auxiliary employees of the Supreme Court on intellectual property matters.

Likewise, it will organize and sponsor conferences, seminars, workshops, elaborate inter-institutional policies in consistency and cooperation with specialized intellectual property institutions. It should also elaborate a diffusion system in different jurisdictions of the country.

It must be pointed out that on March 14, 2012, the Science and Technology Committee received the Director of the Industrial Property Office during its ordinary session. During the session, the approval of the Bill National Direction of Intellectual Property – Dirección Nacional de Propiedad Intelectual (Dinapi) – was sought.

Through this Project, the reform and restructuring of the National Direction of Intellectual Property is sought with the aim to improve this governmental dependency in order to optimize its structure and operation.

The aim to have this Direction be in line with other similar institutions worldwide is a State policy. It will also seek to play a role in promoting, encouraging and educating the population with regard to Intellectual Property.