On 9 December 2025, Resolution INPI P-583/25 was published in the Official Gazette, through which the Argentine National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) introduced two key changes that substantially affect both the scope of trademark examination and the dynamics of the registration procedure in Argentina.
- Limitation of the ex officio examination
Under this new regulation, the ex officio examination conducted by the National Directorate of Trademarks is now limited to absolute grounds for refusal and matters related to public order. Conflicts involving third-party rights, such as similarity or likelihood of confusion with prior trademarks, will no longer be examined ex officio and may only be addressed if raised by third parties through oppositions or invalidation actions.
This limitation of the ex officio examination is effective immediately and applies to all new trademark applications currently pending, regardless of their procedural stage. As a result, the assessment of potential trademark conflicts now depends largely on the initiative of owners of prior rights.
- Reorganization of the registration procedure
The Resolution also reorganizes the stages of the registration process by providing that the formal and substantive examination will be carried out prior to publication of the application. If no objections are raised and no oppositions are filed within the statutory 30-day period, the trademark will be granted directly. In the event of an opposition, the existing procedure will continue to apply.
This new procedural framework will enter into force on 1 March 2026 and does not affect the current sequence of the procedure until that date.
These changes are intended to streamline the trademark registration process and significantly reinforce the importance of trademark monitoring by owners of prior rights, who will need to actively oversee new filings and timely assert their rights where appropriate.
We remain available to assist with the analysis of these changes and with the implementation of trademark monitoring and protection strategies in Argentina.