Trademark protection in Argentina is obtained through registration by filing an application with the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). The registrant has the exclusive right to use the mark. Argentina follows a first-to-file system under Trademark Law No. 22,362 and its implementing regulations.
For foreign applicants, prosecution must be carried out through a registered Argentine trademark agent.
This framework is set out in Trademark Law No. 22,362 and its regulatory decree No. 558/1981, as subsequently amended by Decree No. 1141/2003.
What is a trademark in Argentina?
You can register as a trademark any sign capable of distinguishing goods or services. This includes one or more words (with or without meaning), drawings, emblems, monograms, engravings, stampings, seals, images, bands, color combinations applied to specific parts of goods or their packaging, wrappers, containers, combinations of letters and numbers, specially designed letters and numbers, advertising phrases, reliefs, and more.
Some restrictions apply to what can qualify as a trademark. You can contact us for help with these restrictions, and we can conduct a free search for you.Click here to initiate the search
How to file a trademark and the requirements for Argentina?
A trademark application in Argentina must include at least the following:
Application information:
-
Full legal name and address of the applicant(s).
-
Details of the mark (word/device; representation and, if applicable, a description).
-
Class(es) under the Nice Classification, specifying the goods and/or services covered.
Supporting documents:
-
Power of Attorney signed by the applicant or an authorized officer. The signature must be notarized; for documents issued abroad, an Apostille is required for Hague Convention member states, or consular legalization for non-member states.
-
Certified copy of the priority document (if claiming Paris Convention priority).
-
Sworn translation into Spanish of any documents in a foreign language: our in-house translators can assist you.
How is the process of filing a Trademark in Argentina?
Once the trademark application is filed and the Trademark Office (INPI) verifies that formal requirements are met, it orders official publication for oppositions. A 30-day opposition period follows publication.
Update (INPI Resolution 583/2025): ex officio examination now focuses on absolute grounds and public-order issues; relative-grounds conflicts (likelihood of confusion, etc.) are addressed only if a third party files an opposition within that period.
When the procedure runs smoothly, registration typically takes about 18 months, though timelines may shorten under the new framework.
Coming change (effective March 1, 2026): for eligible applications, INPI will conduct formal and substantive examination immediately after filing and before publication, a change expected to significantly reduce overall processing times.
A registered trademark in Argentina is valid for ten years from the registration date and may be renewed indefinitely in ten-year terms. The renewal application may be filed within six months before expiration, or up to six months after expiration with a surcharge. Argentina also requires a Sworn Declaration of Use at mid-term (between years five and six after grant) and, at renewal, a declaration confirming use during the five years preceding the expiration date.
International treaties
Paris Convention of March 20th, 1883, as amended in Stockholm on July 14, 1967. GATT TRIPS (Law 24.425).
Argentina only accepts single-class trademark applications.
Representation by an Intellectual Property Agent
Trademark prosecution by foreign applicants in Argentina must be carried out through a registered Argentine trademark agent or attorney.
A power of attorney is required to act before the INPI. In Argentina, a general power of attorney is accepted and can be used to file any number of applications on behalf of the same applicant. Formalities depend on the country of origin.
Argentina is a party to the Hague Convention abolishing consular legalization between member states; public documents issued in Convention member states must bear an Apostille. Documents from non-member states require consular legalization by the Argentine consulate.
Goytia & Associates has local offices in Argentina and key cities worldwide, providing high-quality IP services. Our extensive coverage in 120+ countries enables our clients to effectively manage multiple filings and cases through a single centralized agent.
Do you need to file a Trademark from another country other than Argentina?
This content may suffer modifications due to updates in the official regulations of Argentina.
