The union will focus on improving the rules on patenting and improving protection of intellectual property.
The creation of the new Chamber also aims to encourage fair practices and help streamline processes followed when companies make complaints about products reproduced without authorization.S21.com.gt reports that "...The products most likely to be copied illegally are medicines, food, alcoholic beverages, clothing, videos, movies and music. "
Increased prices are predicted along with less variety in drugs and agrochemicals because of the progressive protection of patent rights.
Román Macaya, director of the National Chamber of Generic Producers (Canaproge) explained that at the end of this decade the market will feel an impact on the protection of branded drugs and agrochemicals. The changes will occur due to the agreed extension of rights in the FTA between the U.S., Central America and the Dominican Republic.
It takes from six months to a year to complete the process for registering a patent for a brand with the Guatemalan Intellectual Property Registry.
Various sectors in Guatemala agree with the estimate. "Although there is a commitment to the free trade agreement between Central America and United States (CAFTA), which entered into force in 2006, Guatemala has not signed", reported Prensalibre.com.gt.
The Salvadoran Association of Intellectual Property began a program to encourage registration of patents.
Elsalvador.com reports that Danilo Rodríguez Villamil, the association president, said that patents are a system to protect inventors. "Colleges, Institutions and government should coordinate efforts."
He also stated that “intellectual property in the country is going well, what is needed now are more inventors.
Congress also approved the abolition of criminal offenses against commercial and industrial secrets and confidential information.
Congress also approved the abolition of criminal offenses against commercial and industrial secrets and confidential information.
When this reform comes into force, it will effectively establish the civil courts as the only means of claiming damages for patent infringement or the disclosure of industrial or commercial secrets.