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BUSINESS BRIEF: VENEZUELA


BUSINESS BRIEF: VENEZUELA Patents


How do you register or secure patent rights, and is national or international coverage most appropriate?


In Venezuela, in order to the patentable, the subject matter must meet the principle of novelty; there are, however, some exceptions to this requirement, such as inventions, improvements or industrial models or designs that, having been patented abroad, have not been divulged, patented or executed in Venezuela, and are not in the public domain.


Another requirement for invention is the inventive step.


To obtain protection over an invention our Industrial Property Law provides that an application should be submitted before the Venezuelan Patent and Trademark Office (PTO)


What are the costs of registering and defending a patent?


Te average cost of registering a patent is approximately $3,000. Te costs at trial level depend on whether there are any injunctions; if so, the petitioner can expect regular trial costs of between $25,000 and $30,000, increasing by approximately $12,500 for an injunction proceeding.


Is there anything unusual about the patent law that companies should be aware of? What are the most common mistakes businesses make?


Since 2006, Venezuela is no longer a member of the Andean Community. Te withdrawal has brought several and important changes regarding IP matters.


A petition of interpretation was filed before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court in order to clarify which law will apply for IP matters. At the time of writing, the court has not


determined whether Decision 486 is still in effect in Venezuela. However, the Venezuelan PTO has published notification that, as from September 17, 2008, the law applicable in Venezuela is the Industrial Property Law of 1955, which was the applicable law prior to Decision 486 of the Andean Community.


Tis law has implemented several changes:


• Patent protection has been reduced from 20 to 10 years as from the registration date;


• It excludes some matters subject to patentability;


• Tere is no patentability review by the examiner although, in practice, the patent examiners are continuing to do substantive examinations and have adapted the procedures to the 1955 law. Instead of issuing office actions they are proceeding to deny the patents, giving the patent holder the right to appeal the denial before the PTO;


• Te applicant is required to publish in a local newspaper three times with 10 days’ difference between each publication;


• Compulsory licences are not stipulated; and • Te novelty requirement is only on a national level.


What are the key threats to patent owners, and what is the best strategy if you suspect someone is infringing your patent?


Te uncertainty regarding the application of the Venezuelan Industrial Property Law 1955 is one of the most important threats to patent owners, along with the extreme delay and the inefficiency of the Venezuelan PTO.


To guarantee its rights, the patent owner has a wide array of possible injunctions during the course of a judicial proceeding. Te judge, at his own discretion and provided that the plaintiff can support its right and show irreparable harm, can order injunctions ranging from the seizure of goods to the prohibition of the sale of goods.


148 World Intellectual Property Review Annual 2012


Other measures (injunctions) that may be ordered include:


• Immediate cessation of all acts constituting the alleged infringement;


• Withdrawal from commercial channels of all products resulting from the alleged infringement, including packaging, wrappings, labels, printed material or advertising, or other materials, together with materials and implements whose predominant use has contributed to the infringement;


• Suspension of the importation or exportation of the goods, materials or implements referred to under the previous point;


• Establishment by the alleged infringer of an adequate guarantee; and


• Temporary closure of the business belonging to the defendant or accused, if necessary, to avoid continuation or repetition of the alleged infringement.


Such procedures must be checked first with local counsel, since some judges are reluctant to approve the injunctions provided by law.


Trademarks


How do you register or secure trademark rights, and what protection does it grant? In order to obtain protection in Venezuela on a trademark an application must be submitted to the Venezuelan PTO. Protection is granted on a first-to-file basis. Te granting gives the owner exclusive rights over the trademarks for a period of 15 years due to the reinstatement of the 1955 Industrial Property Law.


What are the costs of registering and defending a trademark?


Te normal costs of obtaining a trademark can range from $1,400 to $2,000. Te costs at trial level depend on whether there are any injunctions; if so, the petitioner may expect


www.worldipreview.com


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