Winds of Change in IMPI

Winds of Change in IMPI On April 7th 2011, it was made public in the media that Jorge Amigo Castañeda was leaving IMPI (Mexican Institute of Intellectual Property).

Prior to this event there had been rumors that this would happen and different expectations were generated regarding the immediate future of the IMPI.

When the moment came, Bruno Ferrari, Secretary of Economy made the announcement, upon request of President Federico Calderón, that Jorge Amigo Castañeda was leaving the IMPI after 18 years of heading the organization. In his speech Ferrari pointed out Amigo’s many achievements: having converted IMPI in one of the best offices at a worldwide level, not only in granting patents, brands, industrial designs and utility models, but also in legal actions for the protection of those rights. In addition to this, under Amigo’s guidance, IMPI received national and international recognitions as well as various collaboration agreements with different institutions and foreign offices. He was also in charge of Mexico’s participation in various international treaties, through which Mexico acquired leadership positions.

Following the announcement of Amigo’s departure, Ferrari announced that the government board of the IMPI had approved the naming of José Rodrigo Roque Diaz as General Director of IMPI, who would assume his position on April 15th,
The new Director has outlined three major tasks:
• Working in raising awareness in technology generators and developers of our country so as to protect their intellectual property rights, in order to promote these protected technological developments in the productive sector, helping Mexico to leap forward from the 60th position in the ranking in terms of IP protection rights.

• Improve the administrative process of the IMPI in order to have faster and more efficient procedures that lead to a more effective sanctioning of illegal and pirated commercial acts, working together with the Customs authorities and the Procuraduría General de la República (PGR).

• Continue and at the same time promote joint work with Customs, PGR and the health authorities so that IMPI can work as a trigger that generates a virtuous circle of IP rights.

A renewed enthusiasm can be perceived in the horizon; there are many things to be done and innovated, and they will be achieved with great effort, dedication and planning in order for IMPI to keep the great commitment of being an element that adds and generates value for the development of high competitiveness in Mexico.
05/05/2011