To promote innovation and protect intellectual property, the United States and El Salvador have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the National Registry Center of El Salvador (CNR).
According to the U.S. Embassy, this new agreement introduces an Accelerated Patent Grant (APG) process, allowing eligible patent applicants to quickly obtain a patent in El Salvador by leveraging an already-granted USPTO patent.
The agreement was signed remotely by Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, and Camilo Trigueros, Executive Director of the CNR. However, the official document was signed in person at the CNR headquarters by U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, William Duncan, and Trigueros.
During the signing, Ambassador Duncan acknowledged that the APG initiative reduces the administrative burden on local patent offices.
“This will allow companies to secure their intellectual property rights more swiftly and reduce delays in bringing new innovations to market,” he stated.
Trigueros emphasized that the agreement would boost technological innovation and economic development in El Salvador.
“This is a historic day for the CNR, having Ambassador Duncan present and signing an MOU that will propel technological innovation and economic development by accelerating patent grants,” said the Salvadoran official.
Under the Accelerated Patent Grant process, an eligible patent applicant who has received a U.S. patent from the USPTO can request that the CNR grant a corresponding patent in El Salvador at any time during its processing, subject to Salvadoran patent laws.