Ecuador: Increase in Official Fees for Patents Reg

Ecuador: Increase in Official Fees for Patents Registration

We have just learnt that the official fees for patent and design matters in Ecuador are about to increase significantly, by virtue of a Regulation No. 006-2012 CD-IEPI. This Regulation will enter into force as soon as it is published in the Official Gazette, which publication is expected to occur imminently.

For instance, the basic official fee for filing a patent application of up to 10 claims will amount to USD2816.13, a fee of USD130.61 will be payable for each claim above the 10th, and the fee for the 20th annuity will be USD20,760.07.

It appears that this decision has been taken without consideration as to the extremely prohibitive effect that it will have on an applicant's selection of Ecuador as a jurisdiction in which to file their patent and design applications, and we hope that the decision will be reconsidered. We will post further details once these are known. We would, however, suggest that if you or your clients are considering filing any patent or design applications in Ecuador in the near future, these be instructed as soon as possible so as to avoid the increase in filing fees.