The Protection of Well-Known Trademarks in Central America and the Dominican Republic

The protection of well-known trademarks is a fundamental element of contemporary intellectual property law. It plays a critical role in preventing consumer confusion and preserving the commercial goodwill and reputation associated with them. Such protection is enshrined in key international instruments, including the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement). These international agreements oblige signatory states to implement enhanced legal safeguards for trademarks that are well-known, particularly when such marks face the risk of misappropriation or confusion across jurisdictions.

In Central American countries (Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama) and the Dominican Republic, domestic trademark laws have largely incorporated these international standards.  Examples of incorporatoin include special inter-class protection, mechanisms for asserting priority rights (in certain jurisdictions), and provisions to prevent the registration of confusingly similar signs.

Please find below and for your easiness and ready availability a COMPARATIVE TABLE on the Legal Protection of Well-Known Trademarks in Central America and the Dominican Republic.