CostA RICA
CostA RICA
It Is VItAL to EstABLIsH A PoLICY foR EnfoRCEMEnt of IntELLECtUAL
PRoPERtY RIGHts CAUsED BY InfRInGEMEnt oR otHER VIoLAtIons
of their IP, but professional assistance from local counsel is benefi cial to • Supervision: Companies should monitor and oversee the activities of
identifying and appraising these assets. their local operations and their competition’s new technologies and new
products to avoid infringing their intellectual property rights
Once an audit is performed, the various properties can be protected based
• Enforcement: It is vital to establish a policy for enforcement of intellectual
on commercial priorities and objectives. Companies should consider
property rights caused by infringement or other violations, given the
plans to increase marketing and sales, expand revenue through licensing
potential for fi nancial damage, loss of clientele and reputation.
or franchising, build or promote value through corporate identity or brand
prestige, and use the portfolio as security or warranty in fi nancial transactions.
Notwithstanding the recent changes in the Costa Rican IP legal framework,
Similarly, it may be possible to consolidate protection or abandon IP that is
strategic management of intellectual property rights will allow a business to
obsolete in order to reduce maintenance costs. Enforcement expenses, as
eff ectively protect and promote its innovations and technologies, as well as
well as the availability of damages and penalties, should be considered in the
the identity of goods and services. Th is, in turn, will enable rights holders
form of protection.
to enter or expand in the market, obtain a bigger market share and even
improve profi tability.
A cohesive and effi cient IP programme in Costa Rica will include a simple
four-part strategy to maximise IP value and minimise risks that should be
part of every IP owner’s plans:
María del Pilar López is a senior lawyer and manager of the intellectual property
operations of Zürcher Law, the intellectual property division of Zürcher Odio &
• Protection: Companies should contemplate the costs and benefi ts of
Raven. She can be contacted at: plopez@zurcherlawyers.com
obtaining protection for their intellectual property within their budgets.
Th is would include an examination of the current forms and scope of
protection available, and any potential diffi culties in the legal framework
María del Pilar López counsels clients on the strategic
or with administrative agencies for obtaining or enforcing rights
protection and enforcement of their intellectual property. she
• Exploitation: Consideration should be given to the diverse means of
handles all aspects of IP practice, including registration of rights,
exploiting intellectual property rights immediately and in the future,
administrative appeals and oppositions, enforcement actions
such as licences, franchises and even using intellectual property to secure
and judicial litigation.
loans, in order to evaluate the value of the IP investment
56 World Intellectual Property Review Digest 2009 www.worldipreview.com
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