Guidelines for IP rights processing

Practical guide for the application of the different texts in force

In Spain the power for IP rights granting belongs to the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO), who meets the precepts of the applicable national and international regulations. In compliance with this task, the SPTO Director approved past February 6th the following guidelines:

• For Patent examination
• For Utility model granting, opposition, limitation and search report
• For Semiconductor Topography granting
• For Industrial Design granting and opposition

These guidelines, which are not binding, aim to provide a manual for the application of the different legal texts in force and clarify the Office working methods, encouraging this way a better communication between the parties involved in the Spanish System of IP rights granting.

Their contents meet the needs for adaptation and evolution of technological sectors, both present and future, as well as judicial sentences and applicable regulations. For this reason, any comment or suggestion on these documents will be highly valued and may be sent to the following address: directrices-examen-patentes@oepm.es