Paraguay Launches Pilot Plan: Fast-Track Trademark Registration in Just 3 Months

By BKM | Berkemeyer

Paraguay’s National Directorate of Intellectual Property (DINAPI), through its Directorate General of Industrial Property, has introduced a pilot program called “Pya’e Porã”, a fast-track mechanism aimed at significantly reducing trademark registration timelines.

Under the ordinary procedure, trademark registration typically takes between 8 and 12 months. The new system seeks to shorten this timeframe to approximately three months, without altering the substantive legal or technical criteria for registrability established under Paraguay’s Trademark Law.

The pilot applies exclusively to word marks covering specific Nice Classification classes, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food products, and beverages.

To qualify for the accelerated process, applicants must meet strict requirements, such as having a duly registered power of attorney, selecting all goods within the applicable classes, and ensuring timely publication in the official IP gazette. Failure to comply—or the presence of oppositions or objections—will result in the application reverting to the standard procedure.

The process follows an optimized internal workflow, including formal examination, publication, opposition period, substantive examination, and final grant, all within a target timeframe of around three months.

The pilot program will run from March 31 to October 31, 2026, during which authorities will assess its effectiveness and consider broader implementation.

This initiative is particularly relevant for companies in regulated and consumer goods sectors seeking faster trademark protection, offering enhanced legal certainty and a competitive advantage in the Paraguayan market.