By Marco García Euroza. Lawyer.
By May 30, the Chilean National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI) reported 27,749 trademarks filings. The number encompasses a 60% increase in comparison with applications filed during the same period on the previous year.
The increase shows the importance intangible assets have now a day for any firm and the fact that startups or well-established firms consider protecting their intellectual assets during the initial stages of the development of products and services rather than waiting for a response from the market. In addition, the increase is mainly driven by national applicants, which further shows the innovative and entrepreneurship side resting in any citizen.
Most of the applications filed were requested for classes 35, 41, and 9 of the Nice International Classification; Class 35 comprises advertising services; business management; commercial administration; office work, among others, Class 41 is related to education services; training; entertainment services; sports and cultural activities, and Class 9 is linked to scientific, research, navigation, geodetic, photographic, cinematographic, audiovisual, and optical apparatus and instruments.
In addition, it was indicated that 99% of trademark filings have been carried out remotely, through the platform available on the INAPI’s website. The latter demonstrates that electronic filing is the new normal and that having easily available proceedings adds to the filing of IP applications.
Source: www.inapi.cl