Elimination of Fees for the Conciliation Procedure before INDAUTOR as of 2026
On January 1, 2026, a relevant change in Mexico’s copyright administrative framework will enter into force. The Ministry of Culture of Mexico, through the Copyright Institute (INDAUTOR), announced the elimination of fees associated with the administrative conciliation («Avenencia») procedure in copyright matters. This measure seeks to strengthen copyright protection and facilitate access to alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for rights holders and users alike.
This article aims to provide a brief legal analysis, without adopting a political or policy-driven stance, of the elimination of fees for the conciliation procedure before INDAUTOR, and to outline its practical and strategic implications for authors, rights holders, and other participants in the creative and cultural industries within an increasingly digital and interconnected environment.
General overview
The conciliation procedure before INDAUTOR is an administrative mechanism designed to promote dialogue and voluntary agreements between parties involved in copyright disputes.
As of 2026, all fees related to this procedure will be eliminated, regardless of the type of user or the specific procedural stage. This includes both the filing of the initial complaint and the subsequent conciliation hearings.
Applicability of the Fee Elimination Measure
The elimination of fees applies to all actions within the conciliation procedure, regardless of whether the parties are authors, collective management organizations (CMOs), producers, publishers, or other copyright holders. Once this measure takes effect (as of January 2026), users will be able to access the procedure free of charge. Although the previous fees were modest, removing them will still significantly reduce economic barriers to administrative justice in copyright matters.
Impact on Copyright Dispute Resolution
From a practical standpoint, this decision is expected to incentivize greater use of institutional dialogue mechanisms for the resolution of copyright disputes. However, the absence of costs may also result in a considerable increase in the number of proceedings initiated before INDAUTOR, which rights holders and their legal advisors should take into account when designing enforcement and dispute-resolution strategies. The conciliation procedure is thereby consolidated as an accessible and effective tool for managing copyright controversies in a non-contentious manner.
Final reflections
The elimination of fees for the conciliation procedure before INDAUTOR represents an important step toward improving access to administrative justice and promoting collaborative solutions within the creative and cultural sectors. It also strengthens Mexico’s constitutionally mandated alternative dispute resolution programs by making them accessible to everyone.
Nevertheless, the expected increase in the use of this mechanism highlights the importance of ensuring its responsible application and safeguarding the rights of third parties in each case. In this context, strategic legal guidance remains essential to effectively navigate copyright disputes under the new framework.
Authors:
Juan Rafael Amador Espinosa; Senior Associate;
ramador@rrs.com.mx
Daniela Márquez-Ledezma; Associate ;
dmarquez@rrs.com.mx
Sofía Castañeda García; Junior Associate;
scastaneda@rrs.com.mx
Andrea Ramos Macías; Staff;
nramos@rrs.com.mx
María Fernanda González Jiménez; Staff;
mgonzalez@rrs.com.mx