Mexico Sets a One-Year Deadline for Patent Decisions

Mexico Sets a One-Year Deadline for Patent Decisions

Mexico published a decree on 3 April 2026 reforming its Federal Law for the Protection of Industrial Property to modernise the patent system and accelerate examination outcomes. The new rules introduce a maximum one-year period from the start of substantive examination for a final decision on patent, utility model, and design applications. [1][3]

The reform is significant for international technology applicants because it targets faster and more predictable protection timelines in a major Latin American economy. It also forms part of a broader global trend toward digital and procedural modernization in patent administration. [1][3][5]