1 June 2014Jurisdiction reportsMaría del Pilar López and Esteban Monge

Business brief 2014: Costa Rica

Patents

How do you register or secure patent rights, and is national or international coverage most appropriate?

Costa Rica is a member of several conventions and treaties that enable a local patent application to be adjustable for filing in other countries.

What are the costs for obtaining a patent, and what are the costs of defending it?

The legal fees to prepare and file a patent application run from $1,200 to $2,000, including the patent office’s fee. Paying the final issue fee, including the patent office’s fee, will cost approximately $650. To the latter, you should add the fee for an expert, who conducts the substantive examination. That costs between $350 and $525. An opposition to your application will increase the fees.

Where can you find information on existing patents in your jurisdiction?

Searches about existing patents can be conducted at the database of the patent office, with the complete title of the invention, the name of the owner or a Patent Cooperation Treaty number, for example. If a more precise search is required, it will be possible to ask the patent office to provide the information.

Is there anything unusual about the patent law that companies should be aware of, and what are the most common mistakes businesses make?

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