IP law firm in Mexico City · Trademark registration in Mexico Your brand matters. Protect it in Mexico before someone else files it first.
We're Carigalta IP, an intellectual property firm in Mexico City. We register, protect and enforce trademarks, patents and copyright in Mexico, and we report to you in clear English.
We reply on WhatsApp with a free preliminary search.
Intellectual property in Mexico
From clearance to the courtroom.
Your local IP counsel in Mexico for the full life of your marks: filing, prosecution, maintenance and enforcement. We'll tell you what you need and, just as honestly, what you don't.
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Trademarks
IMPIClearance searches before you fall in love with a taken name, filing, oppositions, office actions, renewals and watch services.
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Patents & designs
IMPIInventions, utility models and industrial designs, drafted with the technical rigor IMPI demands.
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Copyright
INDAUTORLiterary, artistic and musical works, software, digital content and reservation of rights.
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Contracts & licensing
StrategyLicensing, franchising, assignments and NDAs, so what's yours stays yours when you share it to do business.
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Trade secrets
ConfidentialConfidentiality frameworks for the competitive advantages you shouldn't register.
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IP online
DigitalMarketplace and social media infringements, domain disputes and counterfeiting.
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IP litigation
EnforcementInfringement actions, invalidations, cancellations, preliminary injunctions and defense before IMPI and federal courts.
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Madrid & cross-border
Madrid · USPTO · EUIPODesignating Mexico through Madrid or filing directly? We'll tell you which route fits, and handle office actions locally either way.
Brands we protect
Entering Mexico
What foreign brand owners need to know.
Mexico is one of Latin America's most attractive markets, and one where waiting to file is expensive. Read the full registration guide.
First-to-file
Rights go to whoever files first. Prior use abroad rarely helps.
Spanish only
IMPI works in Spanish. We report to you in clear English.
Simple power of attorney
For filings, signed before two witnesses. No apostille needed.
Year-three declaration
Declare use after the third year of grant or the registration lapses.
Fees per class
MXN 2,813.77 per class online in 2026, VAT included.
How we work
No endless meetings. No insurance-contract language.
You reach out
WhatsApp or email. Tell us what you're building and what worries you.
Honest assessment
What you have, what you're missing and how exposed you are. If you don't need something, we say so.
Strategy & filing
We file, follow up before IMPI and answer office actions, with clear updates in English.
Ongoing protection
Watch services, use declarations and renewals tracked for you, and enforcement when needed.
FAQ
What everyone asks (and rightly so).
Do I really need to register my trademark if my business is just starting?
In Mexico, the trademark belongs to whoever registers it first. While prior use can generate certain rights, if your business grew and someone else registered "your" mark before you, the problem (and the cost of fixing it) is usually far greater than having registered from the start.
How long does trademark registration take in Mexico?
IMPI typically resolves within a few months when there are no oppositions or objections. What is immediate is your filing date: priority from day one. That's why filing early and well — with a prior search — pays off.
Someone is using something very similar to my brand. What do I do?
Don't confront them by direct message. Write to us — we'll assess whether there's actual infringement and define the route, from a formal demand letter to an infringement action before IMPI. The right strategy depends on your registration, their use and the evidence.
Isn't copyright automatic?
The right is born with the creation of the work, yes — but the INDAUTOR certificate is your best proof of authorship and date. In a dispute, the difference between "I made it first" and an official certificate is enormous.
We're a foreign company. Do we need a Mexican attorney to file?
Practically, yes. All IMPI proceedings run in Spanish and require an address for service in Mexico; any office action must be answered locally with legal argumentation. We act as your Mexican counsel and communicate with you entirely in English.
Should we file directly in Mexico or designate Mexico under the Madrid Protocol?
Both routes are valid. Madrid is convenient for large portfolios; direct filing often gives more control for Mexico-specific strategies. Either way, if IMPI raises an objection you'll need Mexican counsel to respond — so the real question is who your local team is, not just the route.
Does Mexico require use of the trademark before registration?
No — you can file and register without prior use in Mexico. But a declaration of actual use must be filed at the third year of registration, or the registration lapses automatically. It's the most commonly missed deadline for foreign holders.
Do you only work with clients in Mexico City?
We work with clients across Mexico and international brands entering the Mexican market. Most filings are handled online, so distance is no excuse.
Is your brand protected in Mexico?
Message us today. We'll tell you how exposed your brand is and what the next step should be, with no commitment.