Mexico Updates Industrial Property Law to Modernise Patent System

Mexico has introduced significant reforms to its Federal Law for the Protection of Industrial Property (LFPPI), with a new decree published on 3 April 2026. The changes aim to modernise the country’s system for protecting inventions and bring it more closely in line with international standards.

Among the key updates, the reform allows challenges to patents or registrations that may have been granted improperly, while reinforcing the right of inventors to be recognised in applications and granted rights. It also introduces greater flexibility in claiming priority rights, allowing reinstatement beyond the standard Paris Convention deadline under specific conditions.

A notable addition is the introduction of provisional patent applications, similar to systems used in other jurisdictions such as the United States. The reform also seeks to streamline procedures by reducing the timeframe for substantive examination to one year, with fewer official actions required.

Further measures include the creation of a specialised technical committee to address delays, as well as provisions for supplementary patent protection certificates in cases of unjustified regulatory delays, strengthening legal certainty for innovators.