The online procedure for an administrative declaration of infringement as established in the Regulations of the Federal Law for the Protection of Industrial Property 

July 23, 2026

The publication of the Regulations of the Federal Law for the Protection of Industrial Property has incorporated various provisions aimed at updating procedures related to the protection of industrial property in Mexico. Among the key updates is the possibility of processing and resolving the procedure for an administrative declaration of infringement online. Its content and scope are established in Articles 184 to 189 of the Regulation, which allow the procedure to be conducted and resolved electronically.  

The procedure for the administrative declaration of infringement can be initiated online by any party demonstrating legal interest, and it may be processed and resolved through the electronic services of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI). The online procedure is voluntary for the alleged infringer, however, who may decide at any time to continue with the matter online or to conduct it in person. 

The electronic case file must be compiled in chronological order and include all pleadings, evidence, and attachments submitted by the parties, as well as official correspondence, agreements, decisions, and other records and proceedings produced during online proceedings. As such, the digital case file will fully and systematically reflect all procedural actions. 

The filing of documents and access to the electronic case file require the use of an advanced electronic signature, and every document incorporated into the case file must be signed electronically with the necessary permissions. 

Electronic or digitized documents submitted by the parties with an electronic signature shall have the same legal effect as those signed by hand and shall have identical substantiated value. In the case of digitized public documents, they will be valid and recognized by applicable law provided that, when submitted electronically, the digitized version is a complete and unaltered copy of the printed document, declared under oath. This does not limit IMPI’s prerogative to request the original for verification. Likewise, digitized documents submitted via electronic signature by the Institute´s public officials shall have the same legal effect as those signed by hand. 

Regarding the availability of the system, IMPI’s electronic services will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Any technical issues will be addressed in accordance with the technical policy issued by the Institute regarding the use of the portal. Documents submitted on a non-business day will be considered as received on the following business day. 

To use the Institute’s electronic services, interested parties must have an electronic signature recognized by the IMPI in accordance with the formalities set forth in the policy issued by the Institute. 

Notifications may be sent electronically when the parties expressly request to receive them in the electronic case file, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the relevant policy. The parties may request at any time to be notified via this method of any requirements, requests for reports and documents, final administrative decisions, or other actions taken by the Institute.  

Notifications shall be deemed to have been received when the electronic case file is accessed, or if such access does not occur, as of the date the notification is recorded as automatically generated by the Institute’s electronic service. 

Decisions issued and served in the electronic case file shall have the same legal effect and scope as those served in physical form. As such, this electronic service is fully equivalent to traditional service. 

The online procedure for administrative declarations of infringement is an alternative and voluntary option that offers full legal validity for electronic proceedings. Its main characteristics are: voluntary participation by the alleged infringer; complete and chronological integration of the electronic case file; the use of an advanced electronic signature as a requirement for access and document validity; substantiated equivalence between electronic documents and those signed by hand; the system’s permanent availability and access; electronic notifications provided that express request is given; and full legal effects for decisions issued through this means.