WIPO Approves Mexico’s IMPI as a New International Patent Authority

WIPO Approves Mexico’s IMPI as a New International Patent Authority

The World Intellectual Property Organization has approved Mexico’s IMPI to act as an International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, strengthening the country’s role in global patent examination.

According to the new framework, Mexico also introduced a maximum one-year deadline from the start of substantive examination for final decisions on patent, utility model, and design applications, a change aimed at speeding up IP processing and improving predictability for applicants.

This development is significant for international patent filing because it expands the capacity of a major Latin American IP office to participate more directly in the global patent system and may improve access for inventors seeking protection across multiple jurisdictions.