MAY 2008 EDITION ARCHIVE
Legal Updates
Constitutional Reforms Enacted for Multi-Year Infrastructure Investment Projects
On April 9, 2004 the Decree Establishing Rules for Carrying Out Projects to Provide Services was published in the Official Journal of the Federation, which is also known as PPS. This Decree allows the federal government to enter into contracts with private investors on long-term investment projects and service contracts for governmental infrastructure projects. In this manner, according to the Decree, the Mexican federal government may engage in PPS investment projects, providing greater security... [Read More]Decree Issuing Law of the National System of Statistical and Geographic Information
On April 16, 2008 a Decree issuing the Law of the National System of Statistics and Geographic Information (Ley del Sistema Nacional de Información Estadística y Geográfica) was published in the Official Journal of the Federation, as part of paragraph B of Article 26 of the Mexican Federal Constitution, which will enter into force 90 calendar days following its publication. The purpose of the new Law, among other things, is to regulate the National System of Statistics and Geographical... [Read More]Amendments to Mexico’s Commerce Code
On April 17, 2008 a Decree amending and adding various provisions to Mexico’s Federal Commerce Code (Código de Comercio) was published in the Official Journal of the Federation. Such changes relate to mercantile procedural law and business disputes arising in Mexico. The reform closes various legal loopholes existing in mercantile procedural law and provides clear rules for business lawsuits to be handled more efficiently. For this purpose, new terms have been created, mainly in the... [Read More]Mexico Enacts Decree Amending Article 80 of the Agrarian Law
On April 17, 2008 Mexico published a Decree amending article 80 of the Agrarian Law (Ley Agraria). Such amendment, although seeking to provide greater predictability, actually adds a slight complication to the procedure for transferring communal property (Ejido) rights between ejido community members (ejidatarios). New aspects of the amendment include: (i) consent for the assignment must be ratified before a notary public; (ii) spouses, common law spouses and children must be notified in writing... [Read More]Decree Adding a Second Paragraph to Transitory Article Fourteenth of the National Water Law
A second paragraph to Transitory Article Fourteenth of the Mexican National Water Law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) was published in the Official Journal of the Federation on April 18, 2008. Such provision establishes the obligation of the National Water Commission to begin a standardization campaign during the next 12 months. The campaign is aimed at holders of water concessions whose concession rights have expired and which were issued before presidential decrees in 1995 and 1996, so long as the holders... [Read More]Decree Issued Amending Tax Benefits for the Cargo and Passenger Transportation Industry
As part of the measures implemented by the Mexican federal government in the cargo and passenger transportation sector, as well as Official Mexican Norm NOM-012-SCT-2-2008 recently published in the Official Journal of the Federation and discussed in the April edition of the CCN Mexico Report titled, “New Mexican Regulation (NOM) on Maximum Weights and Measures for Trucks and Buses,” various decrees offering tax benefits to cargo and passenger transportation companies have been published... [Read More]Business & Politics Outlook
Debate Begins on Mexican Energy Reform
Proposed reforms to Mexico’s energy sector made by President Felipe Calderon at the beginning of April, 2008 were not approved during the regular session of Mexico’s Congress, which concluded April 30th. The President’s proposal has generated ardent opposition, which may be seen in the civil resistance movement being led by left-leaning legislators belonging to the Broad Front for Progress (Frente Amplio Progresista or FAP), which successfully interrupted the Mexican Congress for... [Read More]Mexico: “Strategic Partner” of the European Union
The European Union (EU) recently granted Mexico status as a “strategic partner,” which will be confirmed during the next visit to Mexico of the Chief Executive of the European Union, José Manual Durao Barroso. In 1997, Mexico and the EU signed a broad partnership agreement, which was the first between Europe and a Latin American country. Currently Mexico and the EU are commercial partners in the Mexico-European Union Free Trade Agreement. Status as a “strategic partner”... [Read More]Economic Indicators
Pesos/Dollar Exchange Rate
The quoted exchange rate as of May 8, 2008 was $10.54 pesos per dollar.Mexican Stock Exchange
The Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) closed on May 8, 2008 at 30,751.97 points.Interest Rates
On May 8, 2008, the Average Interbank Interest Rate (TIEE) for a 28-day period was at 7.39%.Mexico IP Info
Notes - Additional Distinctive Marks in Mexican Industrial Property Law
Mexico’s Industrial Property Law (Ley de la Propiedad Industrial) also recognizes and protects distinctive symbols as trademarks that are eligible for protection, such as: (a) commercial slogans; (b) commercial or assumed names; and (c) denominations of origin. Commercial slogans are understood as “phrases and sayings that have as their purpose publicizing public establishments or commercial/industrial or products and services businesses as distinguished by their nature,” which... [Read More]Feature Website
www.impi.gob.mx
This month we recommend our readers visit the webpage of the Mexican Intellectual Property Institute (IMPI), www.impi.gob.mx, where they may obtain information regarding intellectual property rights in Mexico, application procedures and links to international intellectual property websites.