Numbers in Uruguay

By Pittaluga Abogados

The impressive evolution is directly related with the economic growth that the country has undergo in the last years, but also with different measures that government organisms put in place to promote innovation.

Because of the economic conditions, many foreign companies are investing in the country. They promote and even produce their goods and services here. But also many national entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the fine climate for business. Slowly the Uruguayan businessman understands the great importance that trademarks have for the success of their companies. Consumers tend to buy recognized, well-known products and services.

Nevertheless, the increase in the number of registered trademarks has a lot to do with a much more efficient and agile paperwork by the DNPI. More technical staff was incorporated and now there are 70 employees working at the Office. That, along with technological improvement, allowed to reduce by a half the time of a trademark registration.

Now the process between the trademark application and the trademark registration lasts between six and eight months, and the government aims to improve that time cycle.

Another action that has taken place is the promotion and stimulation of patent registration by creating the Propat, a program in which the government assumes until an 80% of the patenting cost for small and medium national enterprises, and assists international companies in the process of the patent registration.