“Clauses agreed upon without due care may bring penalties to companies” The non-compete clause is a contractual obligation widely used in the business universe and can be perfectly valid and applied to different types of contracts, whether they are governed by labor law, commercial law and even antitrust law. However, a non-compete provision must meet…
Author Archives: blp_admin
The yo-yo, chicle, velcro, and jacuzzi seem to have nothing in common. However, all share the ignominy of having been trademarks that became common nouns. That is why, for example, when mentioning a jacuzzi, one may think of a “hydromassage bathtub” (definition given by the Royal Spanish Academy) and not associate the word with a…
Since the entry into force of the Law for the Protection of the Person against the Processing of their Data (Data Law), the importance of this topic in Costa Rica has increased. Likewise, the risk assumed by companies when handling personal information is increasing. In the past year alone, the Data Protection Agency (PRODHAB) has…
The way in which companies promote their products has changed. Currently, to the detriment of traditional advertising channels, many companies resort to the use of opinion leaders or “influencers” on social media to promote their brand. This practice has created a boom for some persons such that a tweet or publication on Twitter or Facebook…
On January 21, 2019, a Bill was introduced to the Economic Affairs committee that would re-establish Costa Rica as one of the foremost countries in the conservation of natural resources and the fight against pollution. This project proposes an ambitious regulation that would prohibit public purchases of single-use plastics, prevent the production and import of…
It is necessary to go back to September 1999, during the Rodríguez Echeverría administration and as part of the “National Concertation Forum”. The convenience and necessity of de-monopolizing the insurance market in order to open it up to private competition were discussed. For promoters, the opening of the insurance market in Costa Rica would improve…
Gazette Summary ADMINISTRATIVE RESOLUTIONS Registrations, modifications or deregistrations of Taxpayers Through Resolution No. DGT-R-60.2017 of December 20, 2017, the Tax Administration clarified the necessary requirements and procedures for registration, modification or de-registration before the Taxpayers’ Registry. Likewise, the resolution details that, for economic activities, the Tax Administration adopted the Uniform International Industrial Classification (ISIC). The…
The high flow of immigration and the relocation of foreign employees managed by national and transnational companies in Costa Rica mean that there is a need to obtain work permits in the shortest possible time and with the least risks and contingencies for companies. When hiring foreign personnel for its work structure, a company must…
GAZETTE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE DECREES Delays in granting benefits Article 5 of Executive Decree number 40540-H, called “Fiscal Contingency” was amended, authorizing a delay for granting the declarations of public interest, sports activity, or cultural interest, for activities or legal entities, by the different government entities that have the authority to grant it. The declaration of sports…
On December 3rd, 2018, the Legislative Assembly approved the Bill entitled Tax Reform – Law of Strengthening of Public Finances. The Bill includes two major amendments to the Costa Rican tax legislation. First, the Sales Tax Law would be completely changed, since it is intended to transform the actual Sales Tax into a Value Added Tax (VAT). The…

