Mexico IP Services for Foreign Firms
Open any service below to see the scope of work and jurisdiction notes. Several can stay open at once.
Trademark Registration & Prosecution in Mexico
We handle trademark prosecution and maintenance before IMPI, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, for foreign firms and their clients:
- —Trademark clearance searches and opinions
- —Trademark filings (direct and Madrid Protocol national phase)
- —Response to office actions (prior mark citations, distinctiveness objections, formality requirements)
- —Opposition filings and defense against third-party oppositions
- —Declarations of use
- —Renewals
- —Portfolio monitoring and surveillance
- —Recordal of assignments, mergers, name changes and license agreements
Key Points for Correspondent Firms
- Mexico is single-class -- each class requires a separate application and generates a separate registration with its own maintenance deadlines.
- Madrid Protocol designations covering multiple classes are split into individual national registrations. We track each one independently.
- The third-year declaration of use is mandatory and non-extendable. IMPI does not send reminders. We build this into our docketing from day one.
Patents & Utility Models in Mexico
We handle patent and utility model prosecution before IMPI for foreign applicants, including PCT national phase entry:
- —PCT national phase entry
- —Direct national filings
- —PPH-accelerated examination (USPTO and other participating offices)
- —Office action responses (novelty, inventive step, subject-matter eligibility)
- —Grant fee and annuity payments
- —Annuity management and deadline monitoring
- —Recordal of assignments and license agreements
- —Translation of technical specifications and claims (English to Spanish)
Key Points for Correspondent Firms
- Mexico's IP law has been reformed recently. We confirm the rules and deadlines that apply to your specific application before advising on strategy.
- PPH is one of the most effective tools for accelerating prosecution in Mexico.
Industrial Design Registration in Mexico
We handle industrial design prosecution before IMPI for foreign applicants:
- —Direct national filings
- —Hague Agreement (Geneva Act) national phase management
- —Multi-design applications (principal + related designs)
- —Office action responses
- —Grant fee payments
- —Renewals (every five years, up to 25 years maximum)
- —Recordal of assignments, mergers, name changes and license agreements
Key Points for Correspondent Firms
- Mexico has been a Hague member since June 2020. International design registrations designating Mexico undergo national substantive examination and protection is not automatic.
- Recent amendments to Mexican IP law affect design practice. We confirm current rules for your filing before advising.
IP Litigation & IMPI Enforcement
We handle IP enforcement in Mexico on behalf of foreign firms and their clients:
- —Nullity actions against improperly granted registrations
- —Cancellation actions for non-use of trademarks
- —Opposition filings
- —Administrative infringement actions before IMPI (trademarks, patents, designs, trade secrets)
- —Preliminary injunctions (seizure, withdrawal from market, suspension of activities)
- —Enforcement opinions and risk assessments
- —Defense in infringement, nullity and cancellation proceedings
- —Appeals before Mexico's Federal Courts
Key Points for Correspondent Firms
- Mexico's primary IP enforcement route is administrative (through IMPI), not judicial. IMPI investigates, resolves and sanctions. Decisions are appealable to the specialized IP court and ultimately through amparo.
- Preliminary injunctions are available but can be neutralized by the respondent posting a counter-bond. We advise on the strategic implications before recommending this route.
Legal & Certified Translations
We provide legal and technical translations for Mexican IP matters, from patent specifications and claims to corporate documents and evidence:
- —Patent specifications, claims and drawings descriptions (English to Spanish)
- —Powers of attorney, assignments and corporate documents
- —Litigation documents and evidence for cross-border proceedings
- —Contract localization (adapting international agreements to Mexican legal frameworks)
What You Get
48-hour filing confirmation
We confirm every filing within two business days of receiving your instructions.
Direct attorney access
You communicate with the handling attorney -- not an account manager, paralegal or intake team. Your attorney knows your file and responds personally.
English as working language
All communications, reporting and docketing updates are provided in English. Our team also works in Spanish and French.
Proactive deadline management
We monitor every deadline in your Mexico portfolio -- declarations of use, renewals, annuity payments, office action response periods -- and alert you in advance. Careful docketing helps keep your Mexico rights in force.
Competitive fixed-fee pricing
We quote fixed fees for standard prosecution and maintenance work. No hourly billing surprises. Complex matters are scoped and quoted before engagement.
Single point of contact for all IP services
Trademarks, patents, designs, litigation, domain disputes and translations -- all handled by one firm, one team, one relationship.
Send Us Your Instructions
Tell us about your matter and we will respond within 24 hours with a quote and timeline.