A new law, number 20,254, establishing the National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI), was published recently in the Official Gazette in Chile. This law – sent to the Congress in 2000 on the initiative of the President – creates a new autonomous agency in charge of the records and administration of industrial property in Chile, with a legal personality and its own assets, linked to the President of the Republic through the Ministry of Economy. The chief executive of this entity will be a national director, named directly by the President.

The INAPI will be the legal successor of the Industrial Property Department and its duties are expected to begin during 2008.

Among other matters, the law states that the staff of INAPI will be numerically superior to the current staff of the Chilean Industrial Property Department. In addition, the INAPI will have greater responsibilities than the current Department, including advising the President in connection with matters relating to industrial property and proposing the signature or accession of Chile to international industrial property treaties and conventions.

Though the approval of this new law was long overdue, it shows the importance that Chile attaches to intellectual property matters nowadays, in the context of the global economy and considering the numerous free trade agreements that Chile has subscribed to in recent years, including with the US, Canada, China, Japan and the European Community.

It is hoped that the creation of this new institution will bring benefits to applicants and owners of IP rights, and that the Institute will be able to offer new services, have better specialized officers and reduce the processing time of applications.

Rodrigo Velasco S

Alessandri & Compañia
El Regidor 66, Piso 10, PO Box 136-34
Las Condes, Santiago
Chile
Tel: +562 787 6000
Fax: +562 787 6062
ip@alessandri.cl
www.alessandri.cl