Lawyers Patents Trademarks and Copyrights INTRODUCTI ON INTRODUCTION

Lawyers Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights

INTRODUCTI ON

INTRODUCTION HINOJOSA ALVAREZ & ASOCIADOS, S. C. , is an international firm formed by Lawyers. The firm is formed by professionals and associates not only in the field of intellectual property, also in colaboration with other law firms making an important pull of law firms providing with a full services in almost all the law fields. The firm is specialized in the intellectual Property field, which includes protection of Patents, Industrial Designs and Models, Trademarks, Appellations of Origin, Slogans, Commercial Names and Copyrights.

INTRODUCTION We are also fully devoted to licensing and the defense of all of these intellectual Property Rights, which are of such a paramount importance in the modern world of business, trade and industry in general. The area of Intellectual Property practically includes most activities presently performed by a corporation.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN THE MATTER OF TRADEMARKS Recent years have witnessed a boost in international trade, particularly in the service sector. While products are crossing international borders, there is an increase in the potential for conflicts among the trademarks used in marketing them. This has brought about an acceptance and awareness by the business community worldwide of the invaluable worth of trademarks. Many companies of all types and sizes are now considering trademarks as their most valuable asset and they try to protect their trademarks both by registration and through legal suits for their defense.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN THE MATTER OF TRADEMARKS We at HINOJOSA ALVAREZ & ASOCIADOS, S. C. , believe it is essential to incorporate the expert advice of professionals on the matter into the marketing plans of our clients. In response to these requirements, we provide a wide range of professional services related with the intellectual property field to trademarks, which explained in this presentation.

TRADEMARK SEARCHING Our firm can obtain an up-to-date information available on each and every registered trademark before the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI). All the information obtainded of these registrations put our firm in a position to perform searches to ascertain the possibilities to have a trademark registered in Mexico. In addition, in order to supplement the computer searches, official files of likely anticipations are reviewed, with the purpose to determine whether they are still in force and to get other information required to issue an opinion of the possibilities of registration a mark and to avoid unnecessary expenses involved in the preparation and filing a trademark application.

TRADEMARK SEARCHING Our firm submits the search results and also expresses a professional opinion on the possibilities to have a trademark registered, both in view of any anticipations that are revealed by the searches and at the light of the current official practice. In addition, in order to supplement the computer searches, official files of likely anticipations are reviewed, with the purpose to determine whether they are still in force and to get other information required to issue an opinion of the possibilities of registration a mark and to avoid unnecessary expenses involved in the preparation and filing a trademark application.

REGl. STRABILITY OF A TRADEMARK The firm also provides an opinion on registrability of a trademark under provisions of the Law and Regulations in force. This professional service to report on a trademark's registrability, in conjunction with trademark searching makes it possible for our clients, to find out in advance whether or not the trademarks and names they intend to use have already been registered by a third party, are protected by Mexican Law and are legally registrable. A small investment and a timely opinion may save substantial sums in expenses and possibly lawsuits if, after selecting a trademark, it is found to infringe the rights of any third parties.

FILING OF TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS AND PROCEDURE OF REGISTRATION We perform all of the required work to obtain the registration of trademarks in the Mexican Republic, which includes the processing and filing of applications for registration, communications with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) holding hearings with the Authority in order to attempt dismissal of any objections raised on applications. We also make payments of all official fees, until we deliver the appropriate Registration Certificate to our clients.

DECLARATION OF USE AND RENEWAL OF TRADEMARK REGl. STRATl. ONS By using our computer system, we are in a position to remind our clients, sufficiently ahead of the deadline dates, to the need to comply with the declaration of use for a registered trademark, as well as to the need for renewal of the related registration. Our firm shall advise our clients with sufficiently advanced notice, on the need to comply with these obligations as specified by our Law. If we fail to receive an answer to our first notice, we mail a second reminder. Our firm takes it upon itself to file applications for Declaration of use and renewal, to make payment of appropriate government fees, attend hearings with the Examiners, in short to follow up on the entire procedure, until appropriate official notices are received.

EXPLOTATl. ON OF TRADEMARKS LICENSING Integration of our firm enables us to provide comprehensive and efficient professional service covering prime requirements of trademark owners. Among these services, our firm has ample experience in negotiating and working out the necessary contracts to set up programs for the licensing of Intellectual Property Rights that may comply with legal requirements for enforcement and recordal with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI). Our firm submits opinion on the lawfulness of a license agreement, in accordance with our Law. We later participate in negotiating the contract, in working out the final draft and in having it recorded with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI).

LITIGATION HINOJOSA ALVAREZ & ASOCIADOS, S. C. , also has extensive experience to join in litigious procedures in the Intellectual Property field both before the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) and before the competent Courts. Our firm has organized several infringement actions (operativos) to combat counterfeit souch as Broncolin, Señor Frog’s Official Store, and among others. Such actions were made simultaneously in several places in the Mexican territory. Which litigious matters are handled for the defense of our clients' rights, including "amparo" (appeal) suits before appropriate courts.

INTERNATl. ONAL SERVl. CES In our capacity as an international concern, we acknowledge the importance to protect our clients' rights not only in Mexico but worldwide. Our firm has associates practically throughout the world, and we are thus in a position to apply for, register, preserve and defend Intellectual Property Rights of our clients in all countries.

PATENTS The protection of creations by inventors, which are known as patents, is also a very important aspect of our everyday practice. We have acknowledged such importance with the establishment since our firm was organized of a department formed mainly by Engineers, although in its legal aspect headed by one of our Attorneys, which exclusively handles the filing and prosecution of patent applications. We are as a consequence professionally prepared to file, prosecute and achieve the best protection for our clients' inventions. After receiving the order letters and docketing the instructions in our Patent Computer System, we proceed, if necessary, to translate the documentation received If pertinent, the Mexican Patent application can be filed claiming priority from a foreign application filed under the International treaties.

PATENTS During the prosecution of all patent applications, we maintain a close relation with our clients keeping them informed of all developments obtained between the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) and our firm. First, we make sure all formal requirements are satisfied so that the Patent Office can then practice the "essential" or "indepth" examination. This examination is to determine the novel and technical aspects of the inventions so as to grant protection. Once the Patent has been granted, it will be necessary, in due course on yearly basis, pay the corresponding annuity fees in order to maintain the enforceability of the patent through its legal term. These services are also rendered by our firm. In consequence we provide a complete service in this area.

OUR CLIENTS… We at HINOJOSA ALVAREZ & ASOCIADOS, S. C. , feel proud to have the patronage of clients who are leaders in their particular markets, such as: The Pepsi Bottling Group, S. de R. L. de C. V. Grupo Serigráfico, S. A. de C. V. , Tiendas Frog´s, S. A. de C. V. Playeras Hussong´s S. A. de C. V. Jhonny Rockets de México, S. A. de C. V. , Distribuidora de Alimentos Naturales y Nutricionales, S. A. de C. V. (BRONCOLIN) Chamoy Miguelito, S. A. de C. V. Legítimos Sucesores de Salvador Novo, S. C. Empacadora Therbal, S. A. DE C. V. Kem de México, S. . A.

OUR CLIENTS… William Grant & Sons Inc. , Agroquímica Tridente, S. A. de C. V. Deiman, S. A. de C. V. Detersol, S. A. de C. V. La Chunga, S. A. de C. V. Tomco de México, S. A. de C. V. National Geographic, Society, Morgan Creek International, Inc. , Tequileña, S. A. de C. V. Agencia Arjona, S. A. de C. V. Adrien Arpel, Inc. Espumas y Materiales Industriales, S. A. de C. V. (ROTOMEX) Flëckt de México Fans, S. A. de C. V. Tecnologías Unidas, S. A. de C. V

OUR CLIENTS… Fundación Mexicana de Apoyo Infantil. . A. C. Vetoquinol de México, S. A. de C. V. Master Works Associates, S. A. de C. V. Agencias Universales, S. A. (AGUNSA) ADT Security Services, S. A. de C. V. Dulces y Chocolates Luxus, S. A. de C. V. Pulte México división Sur, S. de R. L. de C. V. Interware de México, S. A. de C. V. Janome Sewing Machine Co. LTD. Panera, Inc. , Maizoro, S. A. de C. V. Corporativo Copamex, S. A. de C. V. Vinisterra, S. A. de C. V. Royal Consumer Informations Products México, S. de R. L. de C. V.