Honduras updated info regarding trademark, patent and copyright filings

By Bufete Mejía & Asociados

Faced with the new technological transition the country has been submerged by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Property Institute is providing most of its services through its web platform.

Among the benefits for its users are the services of the General Directorate of Intellectual Property in Honduras (DIGEPIH for its Spanish acronym, the name under which the Honduran IPO is known).

The Communications Coordinator of the Property Institute, Norma Expinal, explained that 98% of these procedures are now carried out through the platform.

Any lawyer from anywhere in the country can submit their application online.

-The submission by electronic means of applications for Distinctive Signs and Electronic Signature has been enabled as of Monday, April 27, 2020 via email. 

-As of Monday, August 17, 2020, and until the suspension of the National Sanitary Emergency, the submission via email of Copyrighted Works Applications has been enabled.

-As of August 17 2020, as part of the development of the virtual platform for digital government called SIN + FILAS, the Online Presentation of New Applications is made available to users here. 

-As of November 2020, legal deadlines concerning IP Matters, as well as the filing of oppositions, is made available via email. 

-As of January 4, 2021, the filing of Renewals of Distinctive Signs, License of Use, Change of Address, Change of Name, Merger, Annuity Payment, Reclassification, Rehabilitation, Transfer and Change of Holder is authorized by e-mail.

-All applicants, legal representatives and the general public of distinctive signs, patents, copyrights and electronic signatures filed electronically must contain the respective advanced electronic signature of the applicant or their legal representative as of January 25, 2021.

-Likewise, for the procedures to request certificates, certifications, searches, payment of annuities and rehabilitations, they may be signed with equivalent electronic signatures as of January 25, 2021.