Patent
Argentina is not a party to the PCT, the Patent Cooperation Treaty. Patent applications must therefore be filed directly. A patent is protected for 20 years. The application is published in the official bulletin 18 months after filing. Oppositions can be filed within 60 days of publication. The specification must be in Spanish. The power of attorney must be submitted to the Argentine Patent Office within 90 days of filing.
Utility model
For inventions that do not involve an inventive step but contain an element of novelty, a utility model application should be filed instead of a patent application. A utility model provides 10 years of protection.