Puerto Rico Trademark Information

Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands. The population is estimated at 3967179 with a GDP of $77.4 billion.

Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status.

Trademarks are assigned through the United States Department of Commerce, United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Puerto Rico is not a member of the Madrid Protocol. A trademark is valid for 10 years and may be renewed for further periods of 10 years each.