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Andean Manual for Patent Examination
By PPO Abogados
The document was prepared by the Andean Community with the support of the National Intellectual Property Service of Bolivia (Senapi), the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce of Colombia (SIC), the National Intellectual Rights Service of Ecuador (IEPI) and the National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property of Peru (Indecopi).The almost 400-page manual is based on Decision 486 of the Andean Community (Common Intellectual Property Regime) which states that each Member Country -Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru- shall accord the nationals of other members of the Andean Community, the World Trade Organization, and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, treatment no less favorable than it accords to its own nationals with regard to the protection of intellectual property.
The new manual includes the practices of the national patent offices and the rulings of the Court of Justice of the CAN, both on procedural and substantive aspects. It is an excellent example of productive, regional cooperation on patent harmonization.
"We believe tha to promote innovation we must offer protection to inventors and investors. Intellectual property and the use of the patent system are key elements in such process," said the Secretary General of the Andean Community, Jorge Hernando Pedraza.
PPO Indacochea
PPO Indacochea is Bolivia’s leading full-service law firm, formed through the strategic merger of PPO Abogados and Indacochea & Asociados—two of the most prominent and respected legal institutions in the country. With the largest team of lawyers and the broadest geographic coverage in the market, we are uniquely positioned to deliver legal solutions that are innovative, multidisciplinary, and business-oriented.
Our approach is simple and effective: we provide solutions, not just opinions. We work closely with our clients to understand their businesses and deliver strategic advice tailored to their most complex challenges. We channel transformative foreign investment into Bolivia, advise on high-stakes disputes before local and international tribunals, and offer end-to-end legal services that bridge the gap between law and business.
With a team of 85 lawyers and over 180 professionals led by 14 partners, we operate across six offices in five cities nationwide. Our professionals include top-tier talent—most trained or specialized abroad—with a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility.
At PPO Indacochea we redefine legal services to anticipate and exceed the demands of a fast-evolving business environment. We are proud to be consistently recognized by the most prestigious international legal directories, including Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, IFLR1000, Leaders League, Latin Lawyer, LACCA, and others, as Bolivia’s leading law firm. PPO Indacochea: Where law meets strategy, and local depth meets global vision.
