WIPO - PCT Applicant's Guide EC - Ecuador
National Service of Intellectual Rights (SENADI) (Ecuador)

    Applicable as from 1 April 2025
    (published on 20 February 2025)

    Summary of latest changes in this version
    RO: RO fees

    Consult the full list of the changes

    Previous version(s): You can consult previous versions of the document. The only applicable version is the current version.
    15 Sep 2023, 1 Nov 2023, 1 Jan 2024, 1 Mar 2024, 11 Apr 2024, 1 Jul 2024, 1 Dec 2024, 1 Jan 2025, Current Version

    Useful information

    The PCT Applicant’s Guide is updated almost every week with information received by the International Bureau.
    In case of question, please contact the Office or the International Bureau: pct.guide@wipo.int.
    List of abbreviations used in this document:
    Office: National Service of Intellectual Rights (SENADI) (Ecuador)
    IPL: Intellectual Property Law (Consolidation No. 2006-13)
    List of currencies used in this document:
    USD (US dollar)
    Countries and Offices information:
    The list of acronyms used for Offices is no longer shown as it has been integrated in the mouseover functionality for each ST.3 code shown in this document.
    Refer to List of WIPO Standards, Recommendations and Guidelines formerly Annex K, List of country names and two-letter codes. It includes a list of short names and two-letter codes accepted for use in indicating States, other entities and intergovernmental organizations and their Offices in documents relating to international applications under the PCT. The list is as set out in WIPO Standard ST.3.
    Also refer to PCT Contracting States formerly Annex A.
    Office profile
    For more technical information about the Office, refer to ePCT Office profile.
    PCT Reservations, Declarations, Notifications and Incompatibilities
    The Office does not have any reservations, declarations, notifications or incompatibilities.
    Refer to the full list.
    Office Closed dates
    The Office is closed weekly on Saturday and Sunday
    Additional closed dates can be consulted on the Office Closed dates page

    International Phase

    Annex B - Information on Contracting States or Intergovernmental Organization

    Contracting State:
    Ecuador
    Two-letter code:
    EC
    Name of Office:
    National Service of Intellectual Rights (SENADI) (Ecuador)
    Location:
    Unidad de Gestión de Patentes
    Edificio FORUM 300
    Avenida República # 396 y Diego de Almagro
    Quito
    Ecuador
    Mailing address:
    Same as above
    Telephone:
    (593-2) 394 00 00
    (593-2) 394 00 01
    (593-2) 394 00 02
    (593-2) 394 00 03
    (593-2) 394 00 04
    (593-2) 394 00 05
    (593-2) 394 00 06
    (593-2) 394 00 07
    (593-2) 394 00 08
    (593-2) 394 00 09
    (593-2) 394 00 10
    E-mail:
    General enquiries
    senadi.ec@gmail.com
    PCT enquiries
    pct@senadi.gob.ec
    Website:
    Facsimile:
    None
    Does the Office accept the filing of documents by facsimile or the like means (PCT Rule 92.4)?
    No
    Would the Office accept evidence of mailing a document, in case of loss or delay, where a delivery service other than the postal authorities is used (PCT Rule 82.1)?
    No
    Is the Office prepared to allow applicants to make applications available to the WIPO Digital Access Service for Priority Documents (DAS) (PCT Rule 17.1(b-bis)?
    More information about WIPO DAS is available at: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/das.
    No
    Competent receiving Office(s) for international applications filed by nationals or residents of this State:
    EC, 
    IB
    Does national legislation restrict the filing of international applications with foreign Offices?
    Refer to the Office
    Competent designated (or elected) Office(s) for this State:
    Refer to corresponding National Phase.
    EC
    Types of protection available via the PCT:
    Patents, 
    Utility models
    Payment methods accepted by the Office:
    The payment of fees should be effected in US dollars. All payments must indicate the application number (national, if already known; international, if the national number is not yet known), the name of the applicant and the category of fee being paid.
    As RO:
    The transmittal fee can be paid by credit card or by bank transfer to SENADI’s account:
    Name of the bank: Banco del Pacífico
    Account No.: 7877889
    RUC (tax identification number): 1768190490001
    The payment voucher must be downloaded from the SENADI website: https://www.derechosintelectuales.gob.ec/.
    The international search fee and international filing fee can be paid by deposit or bank transfer to the above account. Transfers must be made separately.
    As DO: The payment of fees can be effected by bank transfer to the following account:
    Beneficiary: Servicio Nacional de Derechos Intelectuales (SENADI)
    Name of the bank: Banco del Pacífico
    Account No.: 748529 (Cuenta Corriente)
    SWIFT code: PACIECEG
    Availability under the national law for an international-type search (PCT Article 15):
    None
    Provisional protection after international publication:
    None
    Information of interest if this Contracting State is designated (or elected)
    Time when the name and address of the inventor must be given:
    May be in the request or may be furnished later. If not already complied with within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1)(a), the Office will invite the applicant to comply with the requirement within a time limit fixed in the invitation.
    Are there special provisions concerning the deposit of microorganisms and other biological material?
    Yes, refer to Annex L.

    Annex C - Receiving Office

    Competent receiving Office for nationals and residents of:
    Ecuador
    Language in which international applications may be filed:
    Depending on the applicant’s choice of competent International Searching Authority, a translation into a corresponding language (refer to Annex D) may have to be furnished by the applicant (PCT Rule 12.3).
    Spanish
    Language accepted for language-dependent free text in the sequence listing:
    Same as above
    Language in which the request may be filed:
    Spanish
    Number of copies required by the receiving Office if application filed on paper:
    1
    Does the receiving Office accept the filing of international applications in electronic form?
    Where the international application is filed in electronic form in accordance with and to the extent provided for in Part 7 and Annex F of the Administrative Instructions, the total amount of the international filing fee is reduced (refer to “Fees payable to the RO”).
    Where the international application contains a sequence listing as a separate part of the description, this must be furnished in accordance with Annex C of the Administrative Instructions, that is, in compliance with WIPO Standard ST.26 XML format; no fees are due for sequence listings filed in this format.
    For the relevant notifications by the Office, refer to the Official Notices (PCT Gazette) dated 11 July 2019, pages 102 et seq. and 1 September 2022, pages 239 et seq.
    Yes, the Office accepts electronic filing via ePCT-Filing
    Does the receiving Office accept the submission of pre-conversion documents and, if yes, in which format (Section 706 of the PCT Administrative Instructions)?
    Yes, any format
    Does the receiving Office accept incorporation by reference (PCT Rule 20.6)?
    Yes
    Does the receiving Office accept the submission of color drawings on an informal basis and transmit them to the International Bureau?
    Yes, without any limitations or requirements
    Does the receiving Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 26bis.3)?
    Yes, please refer to the Office for the applicable criteria and/or any fee payable for such requests
    Competent International Searching Authority:
    CL, 
    EP, 
    ES
    Competent International Preliminary Examining Authority:
    ES

    CL
    The Office is competent only if the international search is or has been carried out by that Office.
    EP
    The Office is competent only if the international search is or has been carried out by that Office or by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office.
    Fees payable to the RO:
    Transmittal fee:
    300 USD
    International filing fee:
    This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).
    1,456 USD
    Fee per sheet in excess of 30:
    This fee is reduced by 90% if certain conditions apply (refer to Annex C(IB)).
    16 USD
    Reductions (under Schedule of Fees, item 4):
    Electronic filing (the request in character coded format):
    219 USD
    Electronic filing (the request, description, claims and abstract in character coded format):
    328 USD
    Search fee:
    Refer to
    Annex D(CL)
    Annex D(EP)
    Annex D(ES)
    Fee for priority document (PCT Rule 17.1(b)):
    per certified page 0.20 USD
    Is an agent required by the receiving Office?
    No
    Who can act as agent?
    Any natural or legal person resident in Ecuador
    Waiver of power of attorney:
    Has the Office waived the requirement that a separate power of attorney be submitted?
    Refer to the Office
    Has the Office waived the requirement that a copy of a general power of attorney be submitted?
    Refer to the Office

    Annex L - Deposits of Microorganisms and Other Biological Material

    Requirements of designated and elected Offices
    Only Offices whose applicable national law contains provisions concerning the deposits of microorganisms and other biological material are listed in Annex L. Unless otherwise indicated, deposits may be made for the purposes of patent procedure before these Offices with any depositary institution having acquired the status of international depositary authority under the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure.
    For a list of these institutions refer to:
    http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/registration/budapest/pdf/idalist.pdf (and the detailed requirements for each institution at: https://www.wipo.int/budapest/en/guide/section_d/subsection_c.html)
    Notifications related thereto may be consulted under:
    http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/registration/budapest/
    Further information concerning the requirements of international depository authorities under the Budapest Treaty is available at:
    http://www.wipo.int/budapest/en/guide/index.html
    Time (if any) earlier than 16 months from priority date by which applicant must furnish:
    — the indications prescribed in Rule 13bis.3(a)(i) to (iii):
    At the time of filing for notification of the fact that a deposit was made on or before the filing date
    — any additional indications:
    None
    Additional indications (if any) which must be given besides those prescribed in Rule 13bis.3(a)(i) to (iii) pursuant to notifications from the Office:
    None

    National Phase

    Summary of requirements for entry into the national phase

    Time limits applicable for entry into the national phase:
    Under PCT Article 22(3): 31 months from the priority date
    Under PCT Article 39(1)(b): 31 months from the priority date
    Does the Office permit reinstatement of rights (PCT Rule 49.6)?
    Yes, the Office permits reinstatement of rights under the “unintentional” criterion.
    Translation of international application required into (one of) the following language(s):
    Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
    Spanish
    Required contents of the translation for entry into the national phase:
    Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
    Under PCT Article 22: Description, claims (if amended, as amended only, together with any statement under PCT Article 19), any text matter of drawings, abstract
    Under PCT Article 39(1): Description, claims, any text matter of drawings, abstract (if any of those parts has been amended, only as amended by the annexes to the international preliminary examination report)
    Is a copy of the international application required in particular circumstances?
    No
    Does the Office accept color drawings under its national law?
    Yes, the Office accepts the submission of color or grayscale drawings or photographs on an informal basis, without any limitations or requirements.
    National fees:
    Must be furnished or paid within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1).
    Patents
    Filing fee
    This fee may be reduced by up to 90% for micro, small and medium enterprises, recognized national universities, independent researchers, public institutions, small and medium farmers and enterprises of popular and solidarity economy.
    495.33 USD
    Additional fee for each claim in excess of 10
    55.07 USD
    Utility models
    Filing fee
    This fee may be reduced by up to 50% for micro, small and medium enterprises, recognized national universities, independent researchers, public institutions, small and medium farmers and enterprises of popular and solidarity economy.
    136 USD
    Exemptions, reductions or refunds of fees:
    None
    Special requirements of the Office (PCT Rule 51bis):
    If not already complied with within the time limit applicable under PCT Article 22 or 39(1), the Office will invite the applicant to comply with the requirement within a time limit of two months from the date of receipt of the invitation.
    Name and address of the inventor if they have not been furnished in the “Request” part of the international application
    This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.
    Document evidencing a change of name of the applicant if the change occurred after the international filing date and has not been reflected in a notification from the International Bureau (Form PCT/IB/306)
    Instrument of assignment of the priority right where the applicants are not identical
    This requirement may be satisfied if the corresponding declaration has been made in accordance with PCT Rule 4.17.
    Instrument of assignment of the international application if the applicant has changed after the international filing date
    Appointment of an agent if the applicant is not resident in Ecuador
    Who can act as agent?
    Any natural or legal person resident in Ecuador
    Does the Office accept the effect of restoration of the right of priority by the receiving Office (PCT Rule 49ter.1)?
    Yes
    Does the Office accept requests for restoration of the right of priority (PCT Rule 49ter.2)?
    Yes, please refer to the Office for the applicable criteria and/or any fee payable for such requests

    The procedure in the national Phase

    EC.01 LANGUAGE OF PROCEEDINGS
    The language of proceedings is Spanish.
    EC.02 TRANSLATION (CORRECTION)
    Errors in the translation of the international application can be corrected with reference to the text of the international application as filed (refer to National Phase, paragraphs 6.002 and 6.003).
    EC.03 FEES (MANNER OF PAYMENT)
    The manner of payment of the fees indicated in the Summary and in this Chapter is outlined in Annex EC.I.
    EC.04 EXAMINATION
    IPL Art. 144
    A patent will be granted only after examination as to patentability. The amounts of the examination fees are indicated in Annex EC.I.
    EC.05 AMENDMENT OF THE APPLICATION
    PCT Art. 28, 
    PCT Art. 41

    The applicant may, at any time before the patent is granted, make amendments to his application, provided that the amendment does not go beyond the original disclosure.
    EC.06 EXCUSE OF DELAYS IN MEETING TIME LIMITS
    PCT Art. 24(2), 
    PCT Art. 48(2), 
    PCT Rule 82bis

    Reference is made to paragraphs 6.022 to 6.027 of the National Phase.
    EC.07 REVIEW UNDER ARTICLE 25 OF THE PCT
    PCT Art. 25, 
    PCT Rule 51

    The applicable procedure is outlined in paragraphs 6.018 to 6.021 of the National Phase. If, upon review under PCT Article 25, the Office denies an error or omission on the part of the receiving Office or the International Bureau, an appeal against this decision may be lodged with the Office.
    EC.08 UTILITY MODELS
    PCT Art. 4(3), 
    PCT Art. 43, 
    PCT Rule 49bis.1, 
    PCT Rule 49bis.1(a), 
    PCT Rule 49bis.1(b), 
    PCT Rule 76.5

    If the applicant wishes to obtain a utility model instead of a patent in Ecuador on the basis of an international application, the applicant, when performing the acts referred to in Article 22 or 39, shall so indicate to the Office.

    Annexes

    Annex EC.I - Fees
    Patents
    The fees may be reduced by up to 90% for micro, small and medium enterprises, recognized national universities, independent researchers, public institutions small and medium farmers and enterprises of popular and solidarity economy.
    Filing fee:
    495.33 USD
    Additional fee for each claim in excess of 10
    55.07 USD
    Search fee:
    — for a search of the national documentation
    148 USD
    — request for a report on the state of the art
    836.96 USD
    Examination fee (additional 10% for each page in excess of 20)
    596.49 USD
    Fee for modification
    227.25 USD
    Maintenance fees:
    — for the 1st year
    125 USD
    — for the 2nd year
    145 USD
    — for the 3rd year
    158.20 USD
    — for the 4th year
    195.11 USD
    — for the 5th year
    226.33 USD
    — for the 6th year
    262.54 USD
    — for the 7th year
    304.55 USD
    — for the 8th year
    353.28 USD
    — for the 9th year
    409.80 USD
    — for the 10th year
    475.37 USD
    — for the 11th year
    551.43 USD
    — for the 12th year
    639.66 USD
    — for the 13th year
    742 USD
    — for the 14th year
    860.72 USD
    — for the 15th year
    998.44 USD
    — for the 16th year
    1,158.19 USD
    — for the 17th year
    1,343.50 USD
    — for the 18th year
    1,558.46 USD
    — for the 19th year
    1,807.81 USD
    — for the 20th year
    2,097.06 USD
    Utility models
    The fees may be reduced by up to 50% for micro, small and medium enterprises, recognized national universities, independent researchers, public institutions, small and medium farmers and enterprises of popular and solidarity economy.
    Filing fee
    136 USD
    Search fee:
    — for a search of the national documentation
    46 USD
    — for a search of the state of the art
    48 USD
    Maintenance fees:
    — for the period from the 1st to the 5th year
    per year 12 USD
    — for the period from the 6th to the 10th year
    per year 16 USD
    How can payment of fees be effected?
    The payment of fees should be effected in US dollars. All payments must indicate the application number (national, if already known; international, if the national number is not yet known), the name of the applicant and the category of fee being paid
    The payment of fees can be effected by bank transfer to the following account:
    Beneficiary
    Servicio Nacional de Derechos Intelectuales (SENADI)
    Name of the bank
    Banco del Pacífico
    Account No.
    748529 (Cuenta Corriente)
    SWIFT
    PACIECEG
    Forms
    Please refer to the Office.
    Current version applicable from 1 Apr 2025 , printed on 22 May 2025
    2.1 #12 - 2025-05-20T15:31:04.965+02:00