At Eguía, we are proud to protect more than 12,000 clients and to have a history spanning 78 years of experience in trademark and patent registration. Today, the fourth generation of the Eguía family is at work, bringing a new vision and fresh knowledge to the family business.
With more than 2,500 registrations a year and a solid base of more than 30,000 active registrations, our growth never stops. Eguía ranks as the fourth-largest firm in Argentina by volume of trademark applications filed, an achievement that reflects our commitment and dedication in the field of intellectual property.
The Eguía family’s story began in Córdoba, when José María Eguía Zanon decided to start registering trademarks and patents. Today his grandson, Javier Eguía, together with his wife, Verónica Cima, Eguía’s legal director, leads the company, ensuring that family values remain at the heart of our work.
International expansion and new generations
The fourth generation of Eguía, represented by Clara and Nicolás Eguía, is committed to innovating and modernizing the business. Clara, an attorney and notary public, is in charge of the international department and communications, while Nicolás, an attorney with a master’s degree in international business, heads franchising and the commercial area.
“It is an honor for us to work with our parents and learn from them. They have given us the freedom to streamline processes and modernize the company,” says Clara. Nicolás adds: “Our mission is to bring that legacy into the 21st century through digital transformation.”
One of the biggest challenges has been upgrading the firm’s technology. “Powers of attorney used to be granted by registered letter and could take up to two weeks. With digital signatures and authentication, we have cut that down to minutes,” Nicolás explains.
With future projects in sight, Clara is focusing on strengthening communications and the relationship with employees and clients. Nicolás, for his part, wants to expand Eguía into international markets: “The firm’s dream has always been to reach Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay. We want to make it happen.” This year, Eguía will open a new franchise in Yerba Buena, Tucumán, a milestone in our expansion.
As the fourth generation consolidates its place in the family firm, Javier and Verónica are redefining their roles. “I intend to focus on client service and on representing Eguía before chambers of commerce, business associations, universities, and international conferences. We want to strengthen our firm’s presence in every area of the economy,” Javier explains.
Demystifying the cost of trademark registration
One of the most common myths about intellectual property is that registering and protecting it is expensive. However, Javier Eguía clarifies: “Registering a trademark in Argentina involves an official fee payable to the INPI (Argentina’s National Institute of Industrial Property), plus the firm’s fee for the full service, which includes watching the trademark for 10 years. Considering the security it gives a company, it is not a high cost.”
A comprehensive service for everyone
We serve a broad range of clients, from small entrepreneurs to large multinationals. “We register about 2,500 trademarks a year, which works out to more than 200 a month. We take on four or five new clients a day, from a bar owner to an airline,” Javier says. Our goal is to provide an accessible, high-quality service that meets our clients’ diverse needs.
In addition to trademark registration, at Eguía we also advise on intellectual property protection for innovative products, software, and industrial designs. “If a client develops software, a copyright deposit can be made. If there is a technological innovation, we assess whether a patent is possible. And if it is a novel ornamental design, we protect it as an industrial design,” concludes Javier, father of the Eguía family’s fourth generation.
Article by Juliana Pino for InfoNegocios.
Related reading:
The definitive guide to registering a trademark in Argentina.
Taking the leap abroad: how do you take a trademark international?
