In an official communication issued on Tuesday, October 2,  2018, the Intellectual Property Authority in Ecuador (SENADI) announced that its Executive Director signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for the creation of specialized Arbitration and Mediation Centers in Ecuador for Intellectual Property matters.

It is expected that mediators who will serve at these centers will be qualified in Intellectual Property issues. Issues will now be resolved or brought before these Mediation and Arbitration Centers. WIPO is committed to training mediators who will be working at these centers.

This is the beginning of the project. FERRERE is seeking to collaborate with authorities in order to select the most qualified arbitrators and mediators, as well as to define the scope of action of these centers exclusively for Intellectual Property matters.

The announcement does not include any information regarding arbitration. Arbitration will require a deeper legal analysis, especially regarding the application of Andean regulations and international agreements, in which the interpretation of the Andean Court of Justice is required.

FERRERE will keep you informed regarding the development of these matters.

If you would like to read the official communication, please visit HERE