A utility model protects functional improvements of already existing objects. In Mexico, the IMPI grants it to those who present a practical innovation with industrial application. It is ideal for inventors looking to protect tools or devices without requiring the technical complexity of a full patent.
Registering a utility model offers affordable costs, a quick process, and a lower level of technical requirements than a patent. It provides commercial exclusivity and legal protection against copies. It is ideal for mechanical innovations, utensils, or practical devices that provide technical, ergonomic, or industrial performance benefits.
To register a utility model, you must submit the application to the IMPI with a descriptive memorandum, claims, technical drawings, and payment of fees. The process begins with a form examination, followed by publication in the Industrial Property Gazette, and if it meets the requirements, the registration is granted (utility model registration). The official IMPI guide explains that utility models must be new and capable of industrial application to be granted.
The owner acquires exclusive rights for 15 years from the date of application in Mexico.
This route is ideal if your innovation is a practical improvement, not a radical development: it is faster and more accessible than a full patent.
Our team of lawyers specialized in IMPI utility models takes care of the entire legal process so you can focus on what matters most: growing your business.
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The registration process takes between 6 and 12 months. The approximate cost before the IMPI is $2,320 MXN, with discounts available for entrepreneurs, universities, and SMEs. The right of exclusivity lasts for 15 years from the date of application.
A utility model protects useful modifications or functional improvements on existing objects (tools, utensils, devices, or apparatus). It does not apply to processes, chemical methods, or complex biological inventions: those cases correspond to patents. There must be novelty and industrial applicability, although a high level of inventiveness is not required as in a patent. This figure grants exclusivity over the innovation for 15 years under the IMPI, preventing third parties from using, manufacturing, or commercializing that improvement without authorization.
To register a utility model, you must submit an application to the IMPI through its online system (“Patents / Inventions Online”). Attach the descriptive report, claims, technical drawings, summary, and background, in addition to paying the corresponding fees. A formal examination is then conducted, the application is published in the Industrial Property Gazette, and if it meets the requirements, the registration is granted. The process is more accessible than for complete patents, making it ideal for innovators with practical improvements.
The protection granted by a utility model in Mexico is for 15 non-extendable years from the filing date of the application, with no possibility of extensions. During this time, the holder can exercise exclusive rights over their innovation. Annual fees must be paid to keep the protection in force. At the end of the period, the improvement enters the public domain. This duration is shorter than that of a conventional patent but offers a balance between cost, agility, and exclusivity for functional improvements.
Choosing a utility model over a full patent is advisable when your innovation is a practical improvement on an existing object, rather than a radical technical leap. This option allows for a faster and more cost-effective process, with lower inventive requirements, making it ideal for entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized enterprises. Although the protection is shorter (15 years), it can be sufficient for many improvements. If in the future your innovation evolves into something more complex, you can consider a broader patent as a strategic complement.
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