Practitioners in Guatemala are frustrated but optimistic about developments in the local trademark office. Given covid-19 pandemic shutdowns, many had hoped that the country would embark on the process of digitisation. Although there has been some progress, IP reform was secondary to other pandemic-related issues in the country. Administrative inattention...

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Practitioners in Guatemala are frustrated but optimistic about developments in the local trademark office. Given covid-19 pandemic shutdowns, many had hoped that the country would embark on the process of digitisation. Although there has been some progress, IP reform was secondary to other pandemic-related issues in the country. Administrative inattention has compounded the existing backlog at the office. However, modernisation efforts continue to be promoted and desired. Guatemala was affected by the same global trends – a boom in online shopping and a boom in anti-counterfeiting activity. Many practitioners have been working side-by-side with local law enforcement to shut this activity down at its sources and to ensure that trademarks are properly enforced in Guatemala and throughout Central America.

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