Customs trademark registration system introduced

In order to implement the government's programme for the fight against piracy and counterfeiting, the director general of the Paraguayan Customs Authority has announced the introduction of a procedure for the registration of trademarks and other IP rights with Customs.

The procedure allows the registration of IP rights under the SOFIA system (the Paraguayan electronic Customs system). Customs may detain shipments if the trademark involved has not been recorded.

The introduction of this registration procedure is in line with the requirements of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, which was ratified by Paraguay in 1994.

Initially, registration was available at the Registration Department of Customs only between January 15 and January 30 2008. However, due to the large amount of applications, the General Customs Administration issued a communication stating that the deadline was extended for an undetermined period of time.

Mirta Miyasaki, Berkemeyer Attorneys & Counselors, Asuncion