The importance of Trademark Registration at INDECOPI: Safeguarding corporate identity in the Peruvian market

In the competitive business world, where product or service identity and recognition are paramount, the protection of intellectual property becomes a crucial pillar. In Peru, the National Institute for the Defense of Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) emerges as the key entity for managing trademark registration, providing businesses the opportunity to safeguard their distinctive signs and stand out in the market. Throughout this guide, we will present a detailed step-by-step process to carry out this procedure, whether virtually or in person, ensuring legal security and differentiation in a competitive business environment.

Registering a trademark is not the same as registering a company name

It is important to understand that registering a trademark is not the same as registering a business name. Both processes are related to the identification and legality of a company but have different purposes and characteristics. While trademark registration protects the distinctive identity in the market, registering a business name establishes the legal entity of the company.

A modo de ejemplo, imaginemos que la empresa “Frutilla SAC”, registrada, en el caso de Perú en la Superintendencia Nacional de los Registros Públicos (SUNARP), y encargada de transportar frutas, verduras y personas, es conocida en el ámbito comercial como «FRUTI». Este último es el nombre comercial utilizado para identificarse ante los consumidores, el cual es diferente de la denominación social y debe ser protegido como un signo distintivo.

Ahora, dentro de los servicios que la empresa ofrece, podemos encontrarnos con tres servicios distintos que emplean para los diversos tipos de trasporte como «Frutiexpress», «Verdiexpress» y «Gentexpress». Cada uno de estos nombres identifica a un servicio y puede ser registrado, en caso de que cumplan con los requisitos en INDECOPI como marcas.

As can be seen, the trademark, trade name, and business name contribute to security and legality in the business environment. Therefore, it is always recommended to register all of them to safeguard rights.

Why register a trademark?

Registering a trademark at INDECOPI confers several benefits to owners, providing legal protection and exclusivity in the use of the mark. Some reasons to carry out this process include:

1. Legal Protection: Trademark registration grants exclusive rights to its use, providing robust legal protection against unfair competition.
2. Commercial Value: A registered trademark can significantly increase the commercial value of a business. Strong and recognized brands are often considered valuable assets in the business realm. It also creates an emotional connection with consumers and builds long-term loyalty.
3. Conflict Prevention: El registro ayuda a evitar conflictos legales y disputas al establecer claramente la titularidad de la marca y sus derechos asociados. Esto puede evitar litigios largos y costosos, así como la protección de la inversión realizada en la construcción de la marca.
4. Market Differentiation: A registered trademark allows companies to differentiate themselves in the market, building a unique and easily recognizable identity.
5. Business Asset: The registered trademark becomes a valuable asset for the company, with the ability to generate additional income through licenses, franchises, or collaboration agreements.
6. Use of the Mark: Since registration does not impose restrictions on the use of a mark, it opens the possibility to leverage it to the fullest extent, including for the web, events, advertising campaigns, social media, etc.

Trademark Registration Process at INDECOPI:

It should be noted that, regardless of whether the applicant is a natural person or represents a legal entity and intends to protect their product or service, they have the option to initiate the registration process at INDECOPI either virtually or in person. Additionally, before registering a trademark, the class of product or service must be defined.

The process for registering a trademark at INDECOPI generally follows these steps:

El proceso para registrar una marca en INDECOPI generalmente sigue los siguientes pasos:

1. Availability Search: Before initiating the registration process, it is recommended to conduct a search to ensure that the proposed mark is not already registered by a third party.
2. Payment of the Corresponding Fee: A payment of S/ 534.99 must be made; this amount corresponds to the payment for a trademark in one class, either at the Banco de la Nación (Peruvian National Bank) or through the virtual platform Pagalo.pe.
3. Submission of the Application: Once availability is confirmed, a trademark registration application must be submitted to INDECOPI. This application will include details about the mark, its owner, and the classification of associated products or services. If representing someone, a simple power of attorney (not legalized) should be attached.
4. Examination of the Application: INDECOPI llevará a cabo un examen exhaustivo de la solicitud para verificar que cumple con todos los requisitos legales y formales.
5. Publication and Opposition: After the examination, the application will be published in the Industrial Property Bulletin for 30 business days to allow third parties to file oppositions if they believe the mark may cause confusion.
6. Granting of Registration: If there are no valid oppositions, and the application meets all requirements, the registration of the mark is granted. From this moment, the owner has exclusive rights to its use. In case of rejection, you can file an appeal within 15 business days.

Virtual or In-Person Procedure: Additional Information

Depending on the applicant's preference, the process can be carried out either virtually or in person. For the virtual process, it is necessary to create a user and password through the link provided by INDECOPI (https://servicio.indecopi.gob.pe/sel).https://servicio.indecopi.gob.pe/selFor the in-person process, the corresponding form (https://www.gob.pe/institucion/indecopi/informes-publicaciones/1079196-solicitud-de-registro-de-marca-de-producto-servicio-y-o-multiclase) must be filled out and submitted to the nearest INDECOPI office with all physical documents.https://www.gob.pe/institucion/indecopi/informes-publicaciones/1079196-solicitud-de-registro-de-marca-de-producto-servicio-y-o-multiclase) y presentarse en la oficina de INDECOPI más cercana con todos los documentos físicos.

In summary, registering a trademark at INDECOPI not only fulfills a legal formality but also represents an intelligent business strategy to strengthen and grow your business. By obtaining legal protection, increasing commercial value, preventing conflicts, and differentiating yourself in the market, you are ensuring not only the identity of your company but also its strong and distinctive position in a competitive business environment. The investment in trademark registration not only safeguards your rights but also translates into a valuable asset that will contribute to the development and sustainable success of your business in the dynamic Peruvian business landscape.