March 25, 2020
This March 25, 2020, the National Assembly of the Republic of Nicaragua, approved the reform to Law 354 Law of Patents of Invention, Utility Model (sic) and Industrial Designs, in order to adjust and modernize the national legal framework as well as the fees for the services provided by the Directorate of Patents and New Technologies.
The reform is focused on updating the fees, which are established as follows:
Application for a patent of invention
-For the first twenty claims $CA 240.00
-For each additional claim to the 20 $CA 20.00
b) Application for a utility model patent $CA 140.00
c) Industrial design registration application:
- for each subclass $CA 70.00
- for each design within the subclass $CA 70.00
d) Request for compensation period $CA 150.00
e) Request for conversion of a utility model patent application to a patent of invention $CA 150.00
f) Request for conversion of a patent application from a patent of invention to a utility model patent $CA 60.00
g) Each fractional application in case of division of an application $CA 50.00
h) Petition relating to an amendment, change, change of the legal representative or attorney-in-fact, correction, transfer or license $CA 60.00
i) Petition for division, for each patent or fractional registration $CA 60.00
j) Annual fees for patents of invention corresponding to the third year $CA 60.00
third year $CA 60.00
fourth year $CA 65.00
fifth year $CA 70.00
sixth year $CA 80.00
seventh year $CA 90.00
eighth year $CA 110.00
ninth year $CA 140.00
tenth year $CA 160.00
eleventh year $CA 190.00
twelfth year $CA 220.00
thirteenth year $CA 250.00
fourteenth year $CA 280.00
fifteenth year $CA 310.00
sixteenth year $CA 360.00
seventeenth year $CA 410.00
eighteenth year $CA 460.00
nineteenth year $CA 520.00
twentieth year $CA 620.00
Compensation term $CA 1,000.00
k Annual fees for utility model patents
third year $CA 25.00
fourth year $CA 50.00
fifth year $CA 50.00
sixth year $CA 75.00
seventh year $CA 75.00
eighth year $CA 100.00
ninth year $CA 100.00
tenth year $CA 120.00
l) Renewal of an industrial design registration:
- for each subclass $CA 70.00
- per each design within the subclass $CA 70.00
m) Surcharge for payment within the grace term
- within the first month: 50% additional
- after the first month: 100% additional
n) Certifications $CA 25.00
o) Background Searches
National Background Search $CA 70.00
International Background Search $CA 300.00
p) Issuance of certified priority documents $CA 35.00
q) Substantive examination performed by internal experts of the registry:
i) Invention patents $CA 350.00
ii) Utility model patents $CA 250.00
iii) Industrial Design $CA 200.00
r) Request for Extension of terms:
i.-Before the expiration of the term: $CA 20.00
ii.-Within two months after the expiration of the term $CA 50.00
s) Reinstatement of patents, according to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Intellectual Property $CA 300.00
t) Restoration of the right of priority $CA 500.00
u) Reinstatement of the right to the PCT application $CA 1,000.00
v) Filing of observations of third parties $CA 50.00
w) Recording or updating of registration of powers of attorney $CA 20.00
x) For each application form $CA 2.00
y) For each simple photocopy of the documents contained in the registry $CA 1.00
The amount determined in Central American Pesos shall be paid in local currency, applying the exchange rate set by the Central Bank of Nicaragua on the date of the transaction.
The present amendment to Law 354 and its regulations will enter into effect when so indicated by the National Assembly or published in La Gaceta, Official Gazette.
For further information on this and other legal issues, please contact LatinAlliance Nicaragua, Abogados y Notarios, at the following email address: abarquero@latinalliance.co