On December 27, 2016, an amendment to the guidelines for the use of the Electronic Payment and Services Portal of the Mexican Institute of Intellectual Property (IMPI) was published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación.
These changes are part of the initiatives of Mexican government aimed at establishing a national digital strategy to promote the adoption and development of information and communication technologies.
According to the new rules, concerning the submission and processing of applications submitted through the PASE, and the electronic notifications, as of February 1, 2017, trademark applications and commercial notices filed online will be processed, through PASE.
The above means that in case the registration is granted, the relating title and any related document will be issued electronically.
It has to be noted, however, that certain procedures such as oppositions, registrations of changes of ownership and renewals, must be still presented physically.
Written applications will be processed in that manner.
Furthermore, on January 31, 2017, a new agreement through which the Online Mailbox of the IMPI is implemented was published.
Through this tool, applications or promotions may be submitted, whose originals must be presented on the following business day.
It is important to note that the Mailbox will not be applicable to those applications, requests or promotions processed on line from the beginning.