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Dominican Republic Settles Debt with WIPO, Strengthening Intellectual Property Commitments
By Guzmán Ariza, Attorneys at Law
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MIPYMES (MICM) of the Dominican Republic has announced that it has successfully settled the country’s long-standing debt with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The payment, managed and executed by the MICM, covers outstanding amounts dating back to 1975.
"Fulfilling this obligation as a member state marks a historic moment and reaffirms the Dominican Republic's commitment to international intellectual property standards," stated the ministry in a press release.
Victor Bisonó, the Minister of Industry, Commerce, and MIPYMES, highlighted the strategic significance of this payment, emphasizing that settling the debt enhances the country’s reputation as a reliable and responsible partner on the international stage.
This move is also part of the Dominican Republic’s broader effort to remain off the Special 301 Watch List on Intellectual Property, an annual report issued by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that evaluates the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights by U.S. trading partners.
In 2024, the USTR removed the Dominican Republic from the Watch List, acknowledging the country’s significant progress in IP enforcement and transparency. These improvements include efforts to combat signal piracy, better resource allocation for enforcement agencies, making enforcement statistics publicly available, and increasing the number of specialized IP prosecutors.
The country has also worked closely with U.S. agencies for training and technical assistance.
Additionally, the Dominican Republic has made notable strides in combating counterfeit medicines. The USTR reported that the country seized over 4 million units of counterfeit medicines, focusing on counterfeits sold in pharmacies and on illicit markets.
This milestone represents a major step toward reinforcing the Dominican Republic’s position as a leader in intellectual property protection and enforcement.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the United Nations agency that serves the world’s innovators and creators, ensuring that their ideas travel safely to the market and improve lives everywhere. Its 193 member states approve WIPO's strategic direction and activities in the annual meetings of the Assemblies.
Guzmán Ariza, Attorneys at Law
Guzmán Ariza is a leading full-service law firm in the Dominican Republic, consistently ranked among the country’s top-tier firms by the most prominent global legal directories such as Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500.
With ten strategically located offices across the nation's principal business and tourism hubs, we are uniquely positioned to support clients in seizing opportunities within the largest and fastest-growing economy in Central America and the Caribbean.
Our multilingual team is well-versed in advising international clients across a broad spectrum of practice areas. In the field of intellectual property, we offer robust counsel and representation in both commercial transactions and litigation. Our services cover trademark and trade name protection, copyright and patent registration and enforcement, as well as licensing, assignments, and the transfer of IP rights.
Guzmán Ariza is globally connected through active memberships in prominent international legal networks, enabling us to effectively support cross-border matters and multinational transactions.