Quevedo & Ponce - Legal News

Digital piracy is one of the greatest challenges for the protection of intellectual property in Ecuador. The use of illegal platforms to distribute content without authorization infringes the rights of authors and creators while exposing users to legal and technological risks. Despite the existing legal framework, it is necessary to promote a digital culture that respects copyright.

On December 26, 2024, Metropolitan Ordinance No. 086-2024 was enacted, modifying the patent tax and 1.5 tax on total assets. The regulation distinguishes obligations based on whether taxpayers are required to keep accounting records, and introduces benefits and exemptions in certain cases. It is essential to know these changes and deadlines to ensure compliance and optimize tax burdens. This article explains the key points that every taxpayer should know.

On August 4, the Constitutional Court announced the decisions adopted by the Admissions Chamber. Among them was the provisional suspension of a transitory provision of the Organic Law on Public Integrity, several articles and the regulations of the Organic Law on Intelligence, and certain articles of the Organic Law on National Solidarity.

Discover the key changes introduced by Resolution NAC-DGERCGC25-00000014 issued by the Ecuadorian Internal Revenue Service (SRI), effective as of August 1, 2025, which regulate the annulment of electronic tax documents in Ecuador. This analysis addresses the tax implications and legal challenges for companies operating under electronic invoicing schemes.

The use of trademarks in cross-border manufacturing operations poses significant legal risks, as evidenced by the Philco case in Brazil. This article analyzes how the unauthorized use of a trademark during manufacturing — even when the products are intended for export — may activate judicial and customs actions. Focusing the impact of the territoriality principle and the need for an international legal strategy.

The Financial Policy and Regulation Board of Ecuador issued Resolution No. JPRF-F-2025-0154, which reforms the legal framework for community savings and loan funds. The regulation seeks to strengthen local financing and financial inclusion, particularly in rural and urban-marginal areas. Among its provisions, it requires that these funds are established as legal entities, obtaining authorization from the Superintendency of Popular and Solidarity Economy (SEPS), and operate exclusively among individuals with common purposes. In addition, it sets asset limits, imposes restrictions on advertising and branch offices, and establishes transparency and corporate governance obligations.

Starting July 29th, the National Customs Service of Ecuador (SENAE) is implementing a new mandatory requirement for travelers: the online declaration of values exceeding USD 10,000, in compliance with the Organic Law for the Prevention, Detection, and Eradication of Money Laundering and Crime Financing. This regulation aims to reinforce transparency and combat illicit activities in capital movements.

The Superintendence for the Protection of Personal Data (SPDP) has issued the Regulation for the Application of the Methodology for the Calculation of Fines in the Administrative Sanctioning Regime, along with the Models for Calculating the Amount of Administrative Fines. This regulation complements the Organic Law on the Protection of Personal Data (LOPDP) and its General Regulation (RLOPDP), strengthening the sanctioning framework and its practical application in Ecuador.

The new Regulation to the National Solidarity Law mandates that Simplified Stock Corporations (S.A.S.) operating in strategic sectors—such as mining, finance, insurance, telecommunications, energy, or biodiversity—must take urgent actions: either convert into another permitted corporate form, amend their bylaws to exclude such activities or voluntarily dissolve within a six-month period. Furthermore, the Regulation introduces a clear legal framework for the figure of the Sports Corporation (Sociedad Anónima Deportiva – S.A.D.), established exclusively for conducting professional sports activities.

Did you know that commercial use licenses are key to legally protecting and leveraging your trademarks, software, or franchises? In Ecuador, these licenses are regulated by Código de Ingenios and allow rights holders and businesses to operate with legal security.

Resolution No. 003-2024-DG-NT-SENADI establishes the technical standard for the application of preparatory procedures for verification and URL blocking to protect intellectual property rights in the digital environment in Ecuador, in the event of infringements and the difficulty of locating infringers.

The new Organic Law on Persons with Disabilities, published in July 2025, repeals the previous 2012 law and introduces significant changes in the labor sphere. It strengthens the inclusion of persons with disabilities in employment, more clearly defines the rights of substitutes and caregivers, and establishes new obligations for employers.