Uhthoff Gómez Vega & Uhthoff SC

Uhthoff, Gomez Vega & Uhthoff, SC was founded in 1905 and since then has been active in the filing, maintenance and enforcement of patents, trademarks and copyrights. The firm collaborates with its clients to help them not only to acquire and preserve IP rights, but also to defend and enforce those rights through litigation, anticounterfeiting and enforcement actions, customs seizures and border measures relating to all types of legal action for the protection of IP rights before the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) and subsequent appeals before judicial authorities, such as the Federal Tribunal of Fiscal and Administrative Affairs, the federal courts and the circuit courts. Further, the firm has broad expertise in handling effective IP enforcement actions, such as administrative infringement actions, criminal actions and other legal actions established in specific laws, as well as with the different authorities directly involved in anti-counterfeiting efforts, such as the IMPI, the General Prosecutor’s Office and other relevant authorities that may collaborate in such efforts.

The firm has offered a broad array of anti-counterfeiting services to its clients for several years now, including designing and implementing comprehensive anticounterfeiting programmes intended to disrupt the supply chain of counterfeit goods from the producer to the final consumer, gathering information through intelligence activities related to the source of counterfeit goods in order to undertake more focused actions, and issuing strong public statements designed to reinforce the general perception of IP rights enforcement.

In order to improve the protection and enforcement of copyrighted materials and registered marks, Uhthoff, Gomez Vega & Uhthoff has developed a national campaign in conjunction with government agencies and Customs to support the National Antipiracy Programme. The firm provides regular training for border and port officials, where infringing merchandise is most likely to enter the country.

The firm’s main areas of practice are as follows.

New creations

These include patents, utility models, industrial designs, integrated circuits and plant varieties. The department comprises not only lawyers who are experts in the area, but also engineers specialising in different fields of industry. The services that Uhthoff, Gomez Vega & Uhthoff provides in this sector include the preparation, filing and prosecution of new patent, utility model or industrial design applications; searches and advice to determine the patentability or possible infringement of an invention; the preparation of expert testimony and recourses before denial of a patent application; the filing of responses to all types of official action; and payment of annual fees related to the acquisition and maintenance of those rights.

Distinctive signs

Such signs include trademarks, geographical indications, trade names and commercial slogans. The department handles services related to all aspects of the incorporation and maintenance of intellectual property in accordance with Mexican and international policy and law. It undertakes searches, prosecution, registration and maintenance of distinctive signs in Mexico and abroad.

Copyright

The department is responsible for the protection of artistic and intellectual works, obtaining registration for these before the National Institute of Copyright. Uhthoff, Gomez Vega & Uhthoff counsels and sponsors clients in the defence of their copyrights and provides assistance in enforcement actions against infringers.

Litigation

The litigation team is responsible for protecting and enforcing clients’ IP rights. The group has extensive expertise in handling general litigation, enforcement actions, customs and international trade issues, administrative, civil and criminal matters before the competent authorities, and in developing tailorered anticounterfeiting programmes.

Corporate and commercial law

The firm can offer clients an integrated service that includes legal counsel in corporate and commercial matters in Mexico, from business incorporation to the legal aspects of commercial and business operations performed daily by companies, individuals and others.