Published on June 11, 2026.
LFPPI Reform: Key Changes Approved on April 3, 2026
On April 3, 2026, the Decree amending, supplementing, and repealing various provisions of the Federal Law for the Protection of Industrial Property (LFPPI) was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation. This LFPPI Reform 2026 focuses on two main pillars: technology transfer and the simplification of patent and registration protection processes.
What Is the Objective of the LFPPI Reform 2026?
The primary goal is to streamline procedures before IMPI, strengthen legal certainty for rights holders, and modernize Mexico’s regulatory framework to align with international best practices.
Key Approved Changes
- Provisional Patent Application (Art. 105 Bis).
A new mechanism allows inventors to secure a filing date and time by submitting only the inventor’s name and a description of the invention, with a 12-month period to file the formal application. - Maximum Resolution Timeframes.
Mandatory deadlines are established: up to one year for patents, utility models, and industrial designs; five months for trademarks without opposition; and two months for integrated circuit layout designs. - Mandatory Resolution Procedure (Title Five Bis).
A Specialized Technical Committee is created, allowing applicants to escalate cases when IMPI exceeds legal deadlines, requiring the issuance of a final resolution. - Ownership Claims (Art. 40 Bis).
Enables claims over patents or registrations granted to unauthorized parties at any time during their validity. - Restoration of Rights (Art. 113 Bis).
Before declaring abandonment, applicants are granted 15 business days to restore their rights by complying with pending requirements. - Compensation for Regulatory Delay (Art. 136 Bis).
Establishes a supplementary certificate to adjust the term of pharmaceutical patents affected by unreasonable delays in sanitary approvals, for up to five years. - New Types of Trademarks (Art. 172).
Position, motion, and multimedia trademarks are expressly recognized. - Protection of Cultural Heritage (Art. 173, XXIII).
Signs linked to cultural heritage and traditional knowledge of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities cannot be registered without authorization from the relevant community assembly. - Sanctions for the Use of Artificial Intelligence (Art. 386).
Infringing conduct will also be subject to sanctions when carried out through artificial intelligence.
How Does This Reform Affect You?
If you are a holder of trademarks, patents, or any industrial property rights in Mexico, this reform directly impacts your strategies for protection, renewal, and enforcement.
Contact a Merida IP
At Merida IP, our intellectual property attorneys help you navigate the new LFPPI with specialized and personalized guidance. Schedule your consultation today and protect what matters most: your ideas, your brand, and your innovation.
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