CostA RICA
María del Pilar López
Zürcher Law
LEGIsLAtIVE CHAnGEs
AnD oPPoRtUnItIEs
foR IP oWnERs
As a consequence of the CAFTA Agreement between the Dominican
Republic, Central America and the United States, Costa Rica acceded to a
number of obligations that resulted in the modifi cation of its intellectual
property laws. However, some of the amendments are not required by CAFTA
and several appear to be contrary to its objectives and the advancement of IP
protection. Th e changes suggest that Costa Rica has taken one step forward
and half a step back—or, perhaps, a half a step forward and one step back.
Elimination of criminal actions for IP enforcement:
a step back
On August 8, 2008, the Congress of Costa Rica amended the Law of
Enforcement Proceedings of Intellectual Property Rights. Among the changes
to the law was the abolition of criminal proceedings against infringements of
trade secrets rights, patents, industrial drawings and utility model rights.
Criminal proceedings were a preferred course for enforcement because they
provided a speedier and more effi cient alternative to civil actions. In many
cases, infringers facing the possibility of imprisonment were more likely to
cease their illegal conduct. Th e rescinding of criminal penalties for these
crimes leaves the civil proceedings as the only means of claiming damages.
Th e IP community is concerned that these amendments weaken Costa Rica’s
protection of intellectual property rights. Th e congressional explanation for
decriminalisation was to avoid the violation of constitutional rights, even
though the Constitutional Court, which reviewed the law, did not expressly
rule that the subject provisions violated Costa Rica’s constitutional law.
Furthermore, the amendment is not among Costa Rica’s obligations under
the CAFTA Agreement.
54 World Intellectual Property Review Digest 2009 www.worldipreview.com
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