Someone registers your mark before you
Guatemala follows 'first to file'. If a third party files first (competitor, ex-employee, bad-faith buyer), you may lose the right to use your name or have to buy it back.
Trademarks
Trademark registration in Guatemala
We register trademarks, trade names, logos, slogans and industrial designs in Guatemala. We run phonetic and graphic prior searches, classify under Nice, file before the IP Registry (RPI) and follow up until you hold the certificate.
Why register now
What happens if you don't register.
No legal action against imitators
Without registration you can't sue copycats. Protection by use is limited and hard to prove. With registration you get civil, criminal and injunctive remedies.
Investors and franchisees require a registered mark
In a round or franchise sale, the mark is a valued asset. Without registration there's no sellable asset — due diligence catches this instantly.
You want to export or expand
For Central America, US or EU expansion, local registration is the first step to extend regionally (Madrid System, national filings).
What's included
Full process to certificate.
- Advice on trademark vs trade name vs slogan
- Phonetic and graphic search in the RPI database
- Nice international classification
- Drafting and filing of the application at RPI
- Official fee payment and file follow-up
- Response to form and substantive objections
- Publication in the Diario de Centroamérica
- Handling of third-party oppositions within the opposition period
- Issuance of the registration certificate (10 years, renewable)
What's not included
For clarity.
- Official RPI fees (paid separately, receipts handed over)
- Foreign-language document translation
- International registrations (Madrid System) — quoted by country
- Extensive opposition and litigation defense — quoted separately
How we work
From name to certificate in 10–14 months.
-
01
Prior search
We verify no identical or confusable mark exists. Real viability with suggested adjustments if needed.
Days 1–3 -
02
Strategy
Define what to register (wordmark, figurative, mixed), which Nice classes, plus trade name and slogan if needed.
Days 3–5 -
03
Filing
Prepare file, pay fee, submit to RPI. You receive file number and priority date.
Week 2 -
04
Form exam
Registry reviews file completeness. We respond to form observations.
Months 2–4 -
05
Publication
Application published in Diario de Centroamérica. 2-month opposition window starts.
Months 4–6 -
06
Substantive exam
Registry evaluates legal requirements. We respond if there's objection.
Months 6–10 -
07
Certificate
10-year certificate is issued. We deliver it and track renewal.
Months 10–14
Reference fees
Fees by filing type.
Indicative ranges. Official RPI fees are paid separately.
Prior search
Q450
Phonetic and graphic search in one class. Free if you hire the registration.
Trademark registration (1 class)
from Q3,500
Fees + full process assistance. Excludes ~Q600 official fee.
Each additional class
Q1,200
For multi-class protection.
Trade name
from Q2,800
Protects the name the company operates under.
Slogan
from Q2,500
Registrable slogans.
Trademark renewal
from Q2,000
Every 10 years. We remind 6 months ahead.
Official fees (~Q600 per class) paid directly with receipts.
FAQ
Trademark questions.
Trademark vs trade name in Guatemala?
Trademark protects the distinctive sign of a product or service (wordmark, figurative or mixed). Trade name protects the identity under which a company operates. Registering both is common to shield the company.
How long does it take?
10–14 months in a normal track without opposition. With opposition or substantive objections it can extend. We keep you posted at each step.
Can I register in Guatemala a mark protected abroad?
Yes. You can register here a mark protected abroad. If it's registered or prioritized in a Paris Convention member, you can invoke priority within 6 months of first filing.
What is Nice classification?
International system classifying products/services into 45 classes (34 products + 11 services). Register only in the classes you actually use. Irrelevant classes are costly and vulnerable to cancellation for non-use.
Can I use the mark while pending?
Yes. Use is recommended — it generates complementary rights. You can't sue based on the registration until the certificate issues, but other actions (unfair competition, trade name by use) remain.
What if someone opposes?
Any third party can oppose within 2 months of publication. We analyze merit and respond. Most unfounded oppositions fail. Serious ones: we explain options (coexistence, amendment, withdrawal).
How long is the registration valid?
10 years from issuance. Renewable indefinitely for equal periods while the mark remains in use. We remind you 6 months ahead.
Often paired