Trademark Registration in Argentina

Trademarks in Argentina are filed before the **National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).

Argentina operates under a first-to-file system, which means that registering your trademark is the most effective way to secure ownership and exclusive rights. While some protection may arise from prior use, registration provides stronger, clearer, and easier-to-enforce rights for your:

• Brand name
• Logo
• Business or product name
• Packaging or labels

In order for a trademark to be recognized and protected in Argentina, it must be registered. Prior use of a trademark will not allocate rights, as these are granted solely upon successful registration.

A registered trademark in Argentina ensures:

• Exclusive nationwide rights
• Stronger legal standing against infringement
• Proof of ownership for online platforms and marketplaces
• Increased brand trust and credibility
• Long-term protection for both local and international expansion

If you register a combined mark (word + logo), your exclusive rights apply only to the exact configuration as filed and registered. If you plan to use either the word element or the figurative element independently, it is recommended to file additional applications protecting each component separately.

To register a trademark in Argentina, you will generally need:

• Scanned copy of a signed Power of Attorney. No notarization or legalization required at filing. Although unlikely, the trademark office reserves the right to request an original legalized Power of Attorney during the registration process.
• The name or logo you want to register
• The applicant’s details

Your iGERENT consultant will confirm the exact requirements for your case and guide you through each step.

The timeline can vary, but a typical Argentina trademark registration takes around 8 months for straightforward cases. This is an estimated timeframe based on current INPI practice and may vary considerably depending on the specifics of each application.

The process usually includes:

• Formality check
• Publication for third-party observations
• Substantive examination by INPI

Delays may occur if objections are issued or if the office has a high workload.

Throughout the process, your dedicated iGERENT consultant will keep you informed at every stage, so you never miss any notice, deadline, or request from INPI.

A trademark registered in Argentina is valid for 10 years from the registration date and may be renewed indefinitely for successive 10-year periods. A renewal application may be filed during the six months preceding expiration or within a six-month grace period afterward, subject to an additional official fee. Renewal also requires a declaration confirming that the trademark was used during the preceding five years.

Once your trademark is approved, you must renew it periodically to keep your rights active. To simplify renewals and avoid missing deadlines, you can rely on our Trademark Renewal Service in Argentina, and let our team handle the dates and formalities for you.

Argentina also requires trademark owners to file a Mid-Term Declaration of Use after the first five years of registration, during the sixth year. If the declaration is filed late, additional annual fees apply, and INPI will not process the future renewal until this obligation has been fulfilled.

A registration that has not been used for five consecutive years may also become vulnerable to total or partial cancellation for non-use. Trademark owners should therefore retain evidence showing how the mark has been used in connection with the registered goods or services.

To comply with this requirement and avoid unnecessary late fees, you can use our Argentina Trademark Declaration of Use Service. Our team coordinates the filing and helps you keep your registration in good standing.

Yes. Argentina allows third-party oppositions against trademark applications.

If a third party intends to register or use a trademark for similar goods or services that includes a primary or distinctive part of your trademark, you have the right to oppose the application based on confusing similarity and potential consumer confusion.

Opposition actions must be filed within thirty (30) days from the date on which the application is published in the local gazette. The chances of success will always depend on the specific circumstances of each case, such as the similarity between the marks, the overlap in goods/services, and the evidence available.

If you believe a trademark application in Argentina conflicts with your rights, we can review your case and guide you through the full opposition process, from strategy to filing and follow-up before INPI.

You do not need to prove that a trademark is already in use when applying for registration in Argentina. However, once the registration has been granted, its owner must comply with certain use-related requirements.

A Mid-Term Declaration of Use must be filed with INPI between the fifth and sixth anniversaries of registration. When renewing the trademark, the owner must also declare that it was used during the preceding five years.

In addition, if the trademark has not been used during the five years preceding a cancellation request, a third party with a legitimate interest may seek its total or partial cancellation for non-use. Trademark owners should therefore retain invoices, advertisements, product images, website records and other evidence demonstrating use of the mark in Argentina.

Argentina recognizes three-dimensional (3D) trademarks through the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), allowing protection for distinctive product shapes, packaging, and configurations.

When registering a 3D trademark in Argentina:

• You must provide a clear graphical representation of the mark from at least three different angles.
• The shape must be distinctive and not solely functional.
• If the 3D mark is the shape of a product, it should significantly differ from the usual shape of similar products on the market.
• INPI may request evidence of acquired distinctiveness if the 3D mark is not inherently distinctive.

Because Argentina follows a first-to-file system, early registration is crucial to secure rights over a 3D sign.

If you want to protect a 3D trademark in Argentina, contact us for a free, no-obligation review of your case so we can assess your options and guide you through INPI’s requirements.