Mexico's IMPI Designated as International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authority Under the PCT

On July 13, 2026, the Assembly of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), convened during the Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, approved by consensus the designation of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) under the PCT. IMPI is expected to begin operations in its new role in January 2027.

The PCT, administered by WIPO, allows applicants to seek patent protection simultaneously in multiple countries through a single international application. Within this framework, the ISA conducts the international prior art search, while the IPEA carries out the international preliminary examination of patentability for applicants who proceed under Chapter II of the treaty.

With this designation, IMPI becomes the 26th international authority of its kind worldwide and the fourth to operate in Spanish, joining Spain's OEPM and Chile's INAPI. Applicants filing international patent applications through the PCT will now be able to choose IMPI as the competent authority for the international search and preliminary examination — procedures that Mexican applicants previously had to entrust to foreign authorities.

The designation offers significant practical and economic advantages, particularly for Mexican and Latin American applicants, who will be able to receive search reports and preliminary opinions in Spanish, avoiding translation costs and delays, with fees expected to be lower than those of other Spanish-speaking authorities.

To meet international quality standards, Mexico is expected to make a significant investment in recruiting and training new patent examiners and in technological tools. The appointment positions Mexico among a select group of patent offices capable of providing these international services and is seen as an important boost for the innovation ecosystem in Mexico and the wider region.

Original Link: https://basham.com.mx/en/impi-designated-as-international-searching-authority-and-international-preliminary-examining-authority-under-the-pct/