Mexico Tightens Patent Timelines as It Modernises Industrial Property Law

Mexico Tightens Patent Timelines as It Modernises Industrial Property Law

Mexico published a decree on 3 April 2026 updating its Federal Law for the Protection of Industrial Property, introducing reforms aimed at modernising the patent system and speeding up examination outcomes. The changes are relevant internationally because Mexico is a major patent market and a key jurisdiction for global technology companies. [1]

The reform adds a maximum one-year period, counted from the start of substantive examination, for a final decision on the grant or refusal of patent, utility model, and design applications. [1][4]

For technology inventors and applicants, the update signals a more time-bound patent process in one of Latin America’s largest economies, with potential effects on filing strategy, prosecution planning, and commercialisation timelines. [1][4]