Modifications in Mediation Law No. 26,589 and Trademark Law No. 22,362

In an extended session on November 25, 2015 the Argentine Senate approved Law No. 27,222 which originated from Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal, and was filed by Representatives Luis Cigogna and Graciela Giannettasio, presented and defended before Congress by Miguel B. O’Farrell with the support of the Instituto Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial, Colegio Público de Abogados de la Capital Federal, Asociación Argentina de Agentes de la Propiedad Industrial, CAPIRA, Centro Empresarial de Mediación y Arbitraje and Club de Abogados Mediadores. The new law, published in the Official Gazette on December 23, 2015, aims to avoid pre-trial mediation proceedings from suspending the 1-year term provided by article 16 of Law 22,362. This resolves a situation of legal uncertainty, puts an end to the abandonment of trademark applications due to errors in computing of terms committed by interested parties and officers of the Trademark Office, and, moreover, shortens the already lengthy trademark registration proceedings for the benefit of all users of the system.