Author: dev_

By means of Decree No. 8819, of April 23, 2018, the image and logo of the “Country Brand” were approved, whose use will be mandatory by State agencies and entities, dependent on the Executive Branch, Corporations in which the State is a majority shareholder and Binational Entities in its Paraguayan Part. The approval of this material is a consequence of an exhaustive research to define the strategy of the “Country Brand” of Paraguay, carried out between 2016 and 2017, due to the fact that, nowadays, both business sectors and governments have the need to create their own identity in front of international markets, with the purpose of capitalizing the reputation of the country and its image.

According to the manual of use, the Country Brand is formed from what is called “Central Idea”, which is the fact by which a country wants to be known. In the case of the “Paraguay Country Brand”, the objective is to make known the development and progress that the country is experiencing and the Central Idea is then related to the notion of an economically fertile country, with potential for investment and growth. The final objective with the “Country Brand” is to create a collective awareness so that the concept of a fertile country is internalized, thus transforming the perception both domestically and internationally.

Three groups of icons were created to represent the Paraguayan ecosystem, each with six variables:

• GROWTH: economy, low indebtedness, legal certainty, political will, low taxes and transparency;
• OPPORTUNITY: industry, infrastructure, logistics, geography, quality of life and purity;
• WEALTH: commitment, energy, hospitality, water, climate and fertile land.

The image and logo of the Paraguay Country Brand will be managed jointly by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Secretariat of Information and Communication, and will be used, in general, in both printed and electronic materials.

In order to establish a regulatory order with a scope according to the current situation of the sector, the Executive Branch issued Decree No. 8785/2018, countersigned by the Minister of Public Works and Communications, which constitutes the new regulation to the Hydrocarbons Law -Law No. 779/1995-. This decree encompasses and leaves without effect the previous decrees No. 2003/2014, 2673/2014 and 4476/2015, with the purpose of simplifying all the regulation in a single legal body and avoiding normative dispersion. The same also clarifies certain articles and establishes deadlines and obligations.

According to Article 2 of the Annex to Decree 8785/2018, the regulation is mandatory for all individuals or legal entities applying for rights for prospecting, exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits in their solid, liquid and gaseous states, as well as for holders of permits and concessions, and public officials involved in processes tending to the granting of the aforementioned rights. Regarding the scope of the new regulation, Article 160 provides that it will be applicable to applications for permits and concessions that are submitted as of the effective date thereof, or that as of the date of its publication in the Official Gazette - April 17, 2018, Official Gazette No. 72 - are in process and have not yet been approved by the Evaluating Committee.

According to the representatives of the MOPC, this new regulation constitutes one more achievement to achieve a better organization and ensure that Paraguay's hydrocarbon cadastre is occupied by serious and committed companies, and responds to the need for PETROPAR, in charge of carrying out the prospecting, exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits on behalf of the Paraguayan State, to have legal and technical tools that allow it to carry out such activities on its own or in association with other specialized companies. It is also intended that the Office of the Vice-Ministry of Mines and Energy may have the necessary tools to regulate and supervise such activities.

If you would like to know more about the exploitation of hydrocarbons in Paraguay and the regulations applicable to this activity, please do not hesitate to contact: Marta Martínez (mmartinez@vouga.com.py)

Taking into account the multiple benefits obtained with the implementation of the Electronic Legal Procedures System, the National Public Procurement Directorate (DNCP) issued Resolution No. 718/18 at the end of February, enabling a new module called “Electronic Investigations”, which came into force last March 15. It allows citizens to submit their complaints through the Electronic Investigations Module SICP in the institution's portal (www.contrataciones.gov.py).

As a result of the implementation of this new module, complaints will be processed through an electronic file, allowing the traceability of events and knowing the exact status of the investigation. Therefore, also the complaints submitted in writing to the Intake Desk will be digitized and processed electronically. In this case, the complainant must provide an e-mail address in order to have access to the system and receive the relevant notifications. Another aspect worth highlighting is that the module has the option of submitting complaints with identity protection, which is intended to encourage the submission of as many complaints as possible.

The Electronic Legal Procedures System also has two other modules that have been successfully used, streamlining procedures and increasing their transparency, providing the parties with the convenience of not having to go to the institution to inquire about the status of their procedures. In this regard, it should be noted that, thanks to the implementation of the system, physical notifications have decreased by 40%, representing an optimization of the State's resources through savings in both time and money.

If you would like to know more about procedures before the Dirección Nacional de Contrataciones Públicas, please contact Perla Alderete (palderete@vouga.com.py) or Walter David Vera (wvera@vouga.com.py) 

The renowned directory Chambers & Partners, dedicated to the publication of guides that identify and rank the best lawyers and law firms in the world, has distinguished Vouga Abogados, specifically in the person of its partner Cynthia Fatecha, with a nomination for the Women in Law 2018 awards, in its Latin American edition.

Chambers' Women in Law awards recognize those pioneers who have promoted the advancement of women within the legal sphere. The awards seek to highlight these achievements, empower the people behind women's innovative initiatives and give greater visibility to gender diversity. They represent the culmination of extensive research on gender diversity in Latin America and celebrate those who promote equal opportunities for women in the region.

The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 10, in Santiago, Chile.

This nomination fills us with pride and reaffirms our commitment to continue promoting a diverse team where equal opportunities are a reality, which enriches the vision we can offer our clients.

In our eagerness to always provide our clients with the best service in the legal field and complying with the highest ethical standards, we continue to constantly reinforce our team, so we are pleased to announce the incorporation of RODRIGO FERNÁNDEZ DE NESTOSA to the Corporate area, to which he will contribute with his experience in intellectual property, litigation and contracts.

Rodrigo is a graduate in Law and Notary Public from the Universidad Nacional de Asunción and holds an LL.M. in Business & Trade Law from the Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. He also holds an LL.M. in Comparative Law from the University of Miami, and is fluent in English, Portuguese and Italian, in addition to Spanish.

We welcome Rodrigo and wish him success in his new role.

If you would like to know more about our Corporate area, please do not hesitate to contact Rodrigo at his e-mail address (rfernandez@vouga.com.py).

Eusebio López, associate of Vouga Abogados, participated as speaker in the International Conference organized by the International Chamber of Commerce called “Arbitrators: Superheroes?” in Quito, Ecuador, on March 23rd. He spoke on the procedural principle Iura Novit Curia, analyzing the positions for and against its application in International Arbitration.

Vouga Abogados participates in the most important academic spaces of international arbitration, always aiming to provide the best service to its clients.

More information about the event: https://iccwbo.org/event/icc-yaf-arbitrators-superheroes/#1479467112259-d5b2b420-b616aba1-b1becc7e-5a0dece0-8b5e4357-bde48474-13102a34-e8d5

If you would like to know more about our International Arbitration practice, please contact Eusebio López (elopez@vouga.com.py) or Mirtha Dos Santos (mdsantos@vouga.com.py)

On March 14, the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC) signed the contract for the construction of section 1 of the Metrobus, which will cover 4.4 km and will run along Herrera Street, from General Aquino to the Port of Asunción area, where the central station of the Metrobus will be located. This will complete the circuit of the first Metrobus line, which will total 16.4 km, from the terminal located in front of the campus of the National University of Asunción to the Port of Asunción, along Eusebio Ayala and Mcal. Estigarribia, and will offer different services adjusted to the needs of passengers from San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora and the capital city.

According to Resolution No. 171 of the MOPC call for tenders No. 12/2017, the firm awarded for the construction of said section is the Consortium formed by DC Ingeniería S.A. (Paraguay) and Stiler S.A. (Uruguay). The latter was advised by Vouga Abogados throughout the bidding process and until the signing of the contract. The total estimated amount for the work is G.134,579,061,183 and, from the signing of the contract, the company has three months to prepare the final design and the subsequent start of works.

The Metrobus is a highly complex project, since it involves both infrastructure aspects, such as sewage, storm drainage and lighting, as well as, in certain cases, the relocation and indemnification of property owners and permit holders affected by the project -which is not contemplated in this bidding process and will be carried out jointly by the MOPC and the Municipality of Asunción-. Therefore, both the bidding process and the signing of the contract required a rigorous legal follow-up, which will continue until the completion of the project.

If you would like to know more about advice on calls for bids and project execution, please contact Walter David Vera (wvera@vouga.com.py) , Rodolfo G. Vouga (rgvouga@vouga.com.py) or Marco Colmán (mcolman@vouga.com.py)

In a novel ruling, both for the unusual nature of the case and for the approach given to the situation, the Court of Auditors of Asunción, second chamber, confirmed the rejection of the registration of a trademark called “Miss Cola Paraguay” on the grounds that it would violate the dignity of women, objectifying them. The Court based its decision on the National Constitution, Law No. 5777/2016 “On Integral Protection of Women against all forms of violence”, Decree No. 6973/2017, regulating said law, and Law No. 1294/1998 “On Trademarks”, as well as on international treaties subscribed by Paraguay, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women -ratified in 1986- and the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Belém do Pará) -ratified in 1995-.

The case reached the Court of Auditors following the administrative contentious lawsuit filed by the applicant against the resolution issued by the Director General of Industrial Property, which rejected ex officio the grant of the trademark, which reached that stage without having had any opposition or objections in the substantive examination. The Director based the rejection on the grounds that “...the scandalous and obscene nature of the requested denomination cannot be denied...”, by virtue of which the requirements of article 2, paragraph a) of the Trademark Law are met, specifically in the sense that the requested trademark is contrary to the law, morals and good customs...”.. It also took into account the protection established by the National Constitution for the rights of children, illiterate young people, consumers and women with respect to advertising and its effects.

The court considered the resolution of the National Directorate of Intellectual Property (DINAPI) to be in accordance with the law and issued within the principle of legality that must govern all administrative acts. Regarding the merits of the matter, it agreed that “...the Trademark Law and the National Constitution applied, are clear and precise and do not leave aside any norm or right, since the decision refers to morality and good customs, contrary to the mentioned registration of the trademark ‘Miss Cola Paraguay’, which is notoriously a violence to the dignity of women and enters into the objectification of women”. Likewise, the judges held that the rejection does not create any type of injury, since the law strongly protects society and the consumer public when it comes to this type of registrations.

Delving into the forms of violence perpetrated against women, the court cited subsection k) of Article 6 of Law No. 5777, which conceptualizes media violence as “the action exercised by the mass media, through publications or other forms of dissemination or reproduction of messages, contents and stereotyped images that promote the objectification, submission or exploitation of women”. They also mentioned subsection m) of the aforementioned norm, which defines symbolic violence as “the use or dissemination of messages, symbols, icons or signs that transmit, reproduce and consolidate relations of domination, exclusion, inequality and discrimination, naturalizing the subordination of women”; and subsection ñ), which states that violence against dignity is any “verbal or written expression of offense or insult that discredits, disqualifies, devalues, degrades or affects the dignity of women, as well as public messages from authorities, officials or individuals that justify or promote violence against women or their discrimination in any sphere”.

Likewise, the Court held that “the application for registration of the trademark ‘Miss Cola Paraguay’ may be considered as one of the ‘socio-cultural patterns that promote and sustain gender inequality by devaluing the tasks performed mainly by women, using images that justify roles for women, are discriminatory or reify them or present them as objects’”, in accordance with article 3, paragraph d), in fine, of Decree No. 6973.

Similarly, the court took into account the experiences in the region, specifically in Argentina, in the decisions taken by companies that promoted for many years the Miss Cola Reef contest, which was later cancelled due to the awareness of gender violence.

If you would like to know more about trademarks and their registration, please do not hesitate to contact Laura Lezcano (llezcano@vouga.com.py)

Anteriormente, el proceso en el fuero civil se tramitaba por el proceso convencional, es decir, con el uso exclusivo del papel. Sin embargo, este proceso fue dejándose de lado por la implementación gradual, desde hace algún tiempo, del sistema de trámite electrónico de manera mixta —en principio de manera exclusiva en determinados juzgados de Primera Instancia de la Capital y en la actualidad en todos los juzgados—, en el cual se utiliza el trámite electrónico junto con el proceso convencional (papel).

Esta situación genera algunas interrogantes desde el punto de vista procesal respecto a su utilización, a la vez que produce confusiones en la tramitación de juicios vía expediente electrónico, como consecuencia de la implementación del proceso mixto.

A continuación, revisaremos algunas preguntas frecuentes referentes al tema:

1.       ¿Qué es el expediente electrónico y qué es el expediente no electrónico o mixto?

El expediente electrónico es aquel tramitado íntegramente en forma digital, sin el uso de papel, y que sustituye al expediente convencional en formato papel. En el expediente electrónico, todas las actuaciones procesales llevadas a cabo por las partes y el juez se encuentran de manera íntegra en la plataforma virtual ordenada de manera cronológica.

El expediente no electrónico o mixto es aquel en el cual las presentaciones de las partes, la interposición de recursos y determinadas notificaciones que el juez disponga, son realizadas vía electrónica, pero aun así continúa el uso del papel, siendo el sistema que rige actualmente en todos los juzgados (con la excepción de aquellos juzgados donde se aplica exclusivamente el sistema electrónico o virtual).

2.       ¿Seguirá existiendo el expediente en formato físico?

En el expediente electrónico no existen actuaciones procesales en formato papel o físico, es decir, no hay constancia física alguna de las actuaciones. Se puede tener acceso al proceso en todo momento y desde cualquier navegador, ingresando a la cuenta personal que cada abogado tenga para tal efecto, previa habilitación informática por el juzgado para la visualización del respectivo expediente.

En el expediente no electrónico o mixto solamente el trámite es electrónico, es decir, continúa existiendo el expediente en formato papel y, si bien las presentaciones se realizan en sistema digital, posteriormente son impresas por el juzgado y agregadas cronológicamente al expediente físico correspondiente, por lo que podrán revisarse en las secretarías judiciales. De todas maneras, todas las actuaciones procesales podrán encontrarse también en el Portal de Gestión Jurisdiccional.

3.       ¿Dónde acceder al expediente electrónico/no electrónico?

A efectos de llevar el control y/o revisión de los expedientes electrónicos o no electrónicos, se deberá ingresar al sitio web llamado Portal de Gestión Jurisdiccional, que se encuentra en la página principal de la Corte Suprema de Justicia (www.pj.gov.py).

4.       ¿Cómo acceder al Portal de Gestión Jurisdiccional?

Para acceder será necesario contar con el código de usuario y la contraseña, los cuáles son otorgados por la Corte Suprema de Justicia. A fin de obtenerlos, el abogado deberá completar un formulario habilitado para el efecto, para luego presentarlo en forma física en la Mesa de Entrada de la Corte Suprema de Justicia.

El formulario puede obtenerse tanto en Mesa de Entrada o vía web en la página de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, debiéndose completar la sección donde se consigna “Creación de usuario y reseteo de contraseña”.

5.       ¿Quiénes pueden acceder al Portal de Gestión Jurisdiccional?

Actualmente solo los abogados matriculados pueden tener acceso al Portal de Gestión para realizar el control de los expedientes.

Esta opción también la tendrán próximamente las personas que sean parte de un litigio y, para tal efecto, también deberán contar con un usuario y contraseña a fin de acceder a sus respectivos expedientes.

6.       ¿Se reciben actualmente escritos en formato físico en los juzgados donde fue implementado el expediente no electrónico o mixto?

A partir del 1º de enero de 2018, todas las presentaciones en general y la interposición de recursos en los juicios solamente podrán realizarse por vía electrónica. En consecuencia, los juzgados en los cuales fue implementado el expediente no electrónico o mixto ya no podrán recibir los escritos en formato papel.

7.       ¿Cuáles son los actos procesales para los que se implementó el trámite electrónico en expedientes no electrónicos o mixtos?

La Acordada de la Corte Suprema de Justicia que implementó el trámite electrónico para los expedientes no electrónicos o mixtos establece que el mismo es aplicable a: (i) las notificaciones, (ii) las presentaciones, y (iii) la interposición de recursos.

8.       ¿Cuál es el modo de presentación de los escritos y documentaciones que se acompañan?

Deberán digitalizarse y posteriormente subirse a la plataforma virtual en formato PDF. En la planta baja del Poder Judicial de la Capital se encuentra una Oficina de Digitalización de Documentos, para aquellos abogados que opten por realizar la digitalización en el Poder Judicial.

9.       ¿Existe una constancia de presentación de los escritos ingresados virtualmente?

Todas las presentaciones que ingresen las partes tendrán un cargo digital que consiste en un sellado de tiempo en donde queda consignado el nombre del expediente, la fecha y hora de presentación y el tamaño del archivo, acompañado de un código QR.

10.   ¿Se pueden presentar los escritos judiciales digitalizados en día u horario inhábil?

Las presentaciones digitales en la plataforma virtual podrán realizarse en cualquier momento, independientemente de que se trate de un día u horario inhábil (no laboral). En estos casos, la fecha del cargo será la del día siguiente hábil al día de su presentación y se consignará como el horario de la presentación las 07:00 horas de dicho día.

11.   ¿Cuáles son las consecuencias jurídicas de las actuaciones realizadas vía sistema electrónico?

La cuenta —es decir, el código de usuario y la contraseña— es de carácter personal de cada abogado para su ingreso al Portal de Gestión y equivale a una firma electrónica, por lo que las actuaciones realizadas desde dicha cuenta tendrán los efectos jurídicos establecidos en la ley especial que la regula, lo que implica que se asume como una presentación del profesional.

Del mismo modo, los jueces y actuarios utilizarán la firma digital para suscribir sus resoluciones, con todos los efectos legales que la ley otorga.

12.   ¿Cómo se realizan las notificaciones de las resoluciones en expedientes electrónicos y no electrónicos o mixtos que antes se realizaban por cédula de notificación?

Las notificaciones que disponen: (i) el traslado de la demanda, de la reconvención y de los documentos que se acompañan a sus contestaciones, (ii) la citación de terceras personas, (iii) la absolución de posiciones, y (iv) los demás casos expresamente dispuestos por el juez, serán realizados por el sistema convencional, es decir, mediante notificación en formato papel realizada por el ujier notificador a ser entregada en el domicilio de la parte.

Las demás notificaciones que la ley dispone que sean realizadas por cédula de notificación serán realizadas por el juzgado a través de la bandeja de notificaciones que consta en el sistema electrónico.

El cómputo del plazo inicia al día siguiente de la fecha en que se depositó la cedula de notificación digital en la bandeja de notificaciones del portal.

13.   ¿Será necesario que el abogado tenga intervención en el juicio para acceder a los expedientes electrónicos y los no electrónicos o mixtos?

Los abogados podrán visualizar los expedientes electrónicos o no electrónicos independientemente a que sean o no parte o tengan o no intervención, debido a que los juicios son públicos. Para ello, tratándose de expedientes electrónicos, el juzgado deberá facilitar una máquina a efectos de que el abogado interesado pueda acceder a las actuaciones.

En los casos de expedientes no electrónicos o mixtos, los expedientes se encuentran físicamente en la secretaría del juzgado, por lo que la revisión podrá realizarse concurriendo a ella.

14.   ¿Cuáles son los Juzgados y Tribunales civiles que actualmente cuentan con expediente electrónico y no electrónico?

Expediente electrónico: solamente cuentan con este sistema los Juzgados de Primera Instancia en lo Civil y Comercial del 18º, 19º y 20º turno, y la Sexta Sala del Tribunal de Apelaciones en lo Civil y Comercial de la Capital.

Según la Acordada de la Corte Suprema de Justicia, todos los recursos interpuestos en los Juzgados Nº 18, 19 y 20 en lo Civil y Comercial de la Capital serán tramitados únicamente en la Sexta Sala del Tribunal de Apelaciones en lo Civil y Comercial de la Capital.

Expediente no electrónico o mixto: Este sistema se aplica en los demás Juzgados de Primera Instancia en lo Civil y Comercial del 1º al 17º turno de la Capital.

15.   ¿Cuál es el marco normativo?

(i)      Ley Nº 4017/2010 “De la validez jurídica de la firma electrónica, la firma digital, los mensajes de datos y el expediente electrónico”.

(ii)    Ley Nº 4610/2012 “Que modifica y amplía la Ley Nro. 4.017/10”.

(iii)   Decreto Nº 7369/11, “Que aprueba el reglamento general de la Ley Nro. 4017/2010”.

(iv)  Acordada Nº 1107/16, “Que aprueba la implementación de las notificaciones electrónicas, las presentaciones en línea, y la interposición de recursos en línea".

(v)    Protocolo de Tramitación Electrónica de la Corte Suprema de Justicia aprobado a través de la Acordada Nº 1107/16.

16.   ¿En caso de necesitar ayuda, adónde se puede recurrir?

El Poder Judicial cuenta en la Capital con una Oficina de Apoyo para profesionales y una Oficina de Digitalización de Documentos, situadas en el acceso principal del Poder Judicial o en los lugares habilitados para el efecto por la Corte Suprema de Justicia, información que puede averiguarse en el siguiente enlace: www.pj.gov.py.

Para más información acerca de las nuevas disposiciones referentes al expediente electrónico, favor contactar con Silvia Benítez (sbenitez@vouga.com.py) o Elio Agüero (eaguero@vouga.com.py).

The Superintendency of Insurance (SIS) issued three new resolutions regulating the activity of reinsurance companies and reinsurance brokers.

Resolution No. 179/17 of October 2017 establishes the Reinsurance Management Rules, and is applicable to insurance companies established in the country, reinsurance brokers and reinsurers. Said Resolution regulates, among others, the obligation to submit to the SIS all documentation related to reinsurance contracts entered into by insurers. It also establishes certain mandatory clauses that all reinsurance contracts must contain. On the other hand, it establishes the obligation of local insurers to keep certain specific information at the disposal of the SIS. Additionally, it establishes that any reinsurance contract entered into in violation of the Resolution will not be enforceable against the SIS for purposes of proving compliance with legal and regulatory standards, nor will they be taken into account for technical provisions, without prejudice to any administrative sanctions that may apply. It is understood that the latter prohibition includes the fact of entering into reinsurance contracts with foreign reinsurers not registered with the SIS. Finally, the Resolution establishes that Resolution No. 26/08 (on the periodicity of reinsurance contracts submission and formality for registration in the SIS) and Resolution No. 145/12 (on the commitments of the reinsurer and/or reinsurance broker derived from the judicialization of cases of indemnity rejections) are repealed, as well as any other that opposes the provisions of Resolution No. 179/17.

On the other hand, Resolution No. 213/17 of December 2017 regulates the Rules for the Registration, Revocation and Maintenance of Reinsurance Companies in the SIS Register. This resolution is equally applicable to reinsurers, reinsurance brokers and local insurers. With respect to foreign reinsurers, it establishes that their participation in the local market is authorized as long as they comply with the requirements of this Resolution, and that the SIS by means of an administrative act may authorize the registration of a foreign reinsurer in the local registries in order to authorize its operation from abroad. The registration is valid for a term of up to 2 years and not less than 1 year, with a uniform expiration date as of March 31. This Resolution regulates the requirements that foreign reinsurers must meet when applying for registration with the SIS, among which are minimum international ratings depending on the rating agency. Finally, the Resolution repeals Resolution No. 13/2010 (on requirements and procedures for the registration, renewal, maintenance and exclusion of foreign reinsurers in the SIS registry) and Resolution No. 145/12 (referred to earlier in this article).

In turn, Resolution No. 214/17 of December 2017 establishes the Rules for Reinsurance Brokers, and is applicable to both reinsurance brokers registered with the SIS and their representatives. The Resolution establishes the requirements to register or renew the registration to act as a reinsurance broker, whether they are individuals or legal entities, domestic or foreign. The Resolution provides that the registration or renewal shall be valid for up to 2 years, and also mentions the persons who may not act as reinsurance intermediaries or as representatives thereof, as well as the information that must be kept at the disposal of the SIS and that which must be submitted to the SIS every quarter. Finally, the Resolution repeals Resolution No. 15/96, Resolution No. 3/98 and Resolution No. 285/07.

For more information about the new reinsurance provisions and compliance, please contact Carlos Vouga (cvouga@vouga.com.py) or Cynthia Fatecha (cfatecha@vouga.com.py).