Andean Community of Nations: A unique decision on trademarks

Last April, the Andean Community approved the Common Andean Regime for the protection of the CAN members trademarks between its countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

The Country trademark is a sign adopted by a State within a framework of policies and strategies aimed at disseminating and promoting the country's identity through tourism, exports and investments, becoming over time a State Emblem and a distinctive sign of it.

This draft decision on the common regime for the Country trademark had been in the works for more than four years as an initiative of Colombia, through the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce. It sought mainly for the Country trademark to be recognized by the other States, and also for it to be protected indefinitely, as it is set in the agreement.

The project was submitted to the commission for consideration, and it was approved, making the CAN the first bloc of nations to take decisions of this type to protect the distinctive marks of its member states.