ARIAS is pleased to announce the grant of the first patent issued in Guatemala under the Accelerated Patent Grant (APG) program. The patent covers an audio invention developed by Dolby International, a global leader in audio, imaging, and voice technologies for the entertainment industry. As the firm responsible for the prosecution and strategic management of the application, ARIAS had the privilege of supporting the patent holder throughout this pioneering process.
The APG is an expedited examination procedure that Guatemala's Intellectual Property Registry (RPI) began implementing in November 2025 under an agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Through this procedure, the RPI can rely on examination results issued by the USPTO to expedite the prosecution of patent applications in Guatemala. This shortens the time to grant, strengthens the country's industrial property system, and has a positive impact on its innovation and competitiveness indicators.
This grant demonstrates the effectiveness of the APG in practice as the application was examined and granted in significantly less time than through the standard procedure. It is a meaningful step forward for patent protection in Guatemala and opens the door for more innovators to benefit from this mechanism.
The matter was led by partner Ivón Hernández, who brings more than 15 years of experience in intellectual property. Her expertise was key in directing the strategy and guiding the application through to grant. ARIAS congratulates Ivón and the Guatemala Intellectual Property team on this achievement, which reaffirms the firm's commitment to advising its clients with quality and passion.
For more details on the requirements and operation of the APG program, see our article: https://ariaslaw.com/en/new-detail/2592/1/first-agreement-for-accelerated-patent-grant-in-guatemala-apg