Registered patents are protected for ten years, less the period of protection already enjoyed in the country of origin. Licensing is not mandatory. Pharmaceuticals and chemical products are not patentable. The lack of patent protection for pharmaceuticals has had a marked negative effect on U.S. trade and investment in the sector. Foreign trademarks may be registered in Uruguay and receive the same protection as domestic trademarks.
Protection is afforded for ten years initially and is renewable.
Uruguay affords copyright protection to, inter alia, books, records, videos, and software. Despite legal protection, enforcement of copyrights for software is still weak and pirating of software is estimated at 90 percent. There is also considerable pirating of videotapes and music cassettes. Worker Rights a. The Constitution guarantees the right of workers to organize freely and encourages the formation of unions.