Colombia changes trade name deposit requirements

Opinion 08048285 of 20 June 2008 of the Colombian Trademark Office amends its practice with regard to the deposit of trade names. Previously, trade names deposited before the coming into force of Andean Pact Decision 486 had to be renewed 10 years after the date of entry into force of the decision (ie by 1 December 2010) while trade names deposited thereafter had to be renewed 10 years after the date of the deposit, under Article 196 of the decision. The Opinion of 20 June removes the requirement to renew the deposit of trade names, and deposits will remain valid indefinitely.

Source: article in World Trademark Report by Margarita Castellanos (Castellanos & Co, Bogota).