Uruguay Patent Guide

Registration
A patent can be registered in Uruguay pursuant to Law No. 17.164 Regulating Rights and Obligations Relating to Patents, Utility Models and Industrial Designs (1.827*R) which provides for local patent applications.

The following information and documentation is required:

1. a description of the invention
2. one or more claims and any drawings referred to in the description or any claim
3. an abstract of less than 100 words
4. name, address and nationality of both the applicant(s) and the inventor(s)
5. Power of Attorney
6. certified copy of priority document (if priority is claimed)
7. certified Spanish translation of all of the above documents

It usually takes about eight years for the Technical Director at the National Directorate of Industrial Property in the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining to process an application for registration. Paris Convention priority cannot be claimed. Once the registration is complete the Director will issue a Certificate of Registration.

Patent Cooperation Treaty
Uruguay is not a signatory to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). National phase filing of a PCT patent is not possible.

Searches
Whilst there is no requirement to conduct a search in Uruguay prior to the filing of an application for registration a search is recommended to ascertain that there will be no discrepancies concerning the innovativeness of the patent. The result can usually be provided within ten working days.

Expiry
A patent registration is valid for 20 years. Once the registration has expired it cannot be renewed.

Abandonment
Please inform us as soon as possible if you wish to abandon your patent or allow it to lapse so that we can update our records and advise the Director accordingly. This will avoid us sending out unnecessary Reminder Notices.

Assignment
Please inform us as soon as possible if the patent has been assigned so that we can file an application to record the assignment in Uruguay.

To record the assignment of a patent registration the only documentation required is the Deed of Assignment and a Power of Attorney.

It usually takes eight months or less for the Director to process an application to record an assignment. Once the recording is complete the Director will issue a Certificate of Registration of Assignment.

Change of Particulars
Please inform us as soon as possible if there is any change to the registration so that we can file an application to record the change in Uruguay.

To record a change of name and/or address for a patent registration the only documentation required is a Power of Attorney.

It usually takes eight months or less for the Director to process an application to record a Change of Particulars. Once the recording is complete the Director will issue a Certificate of Recording showing the change.