A reform dubbed the "Ley Antimemes" (Anti-Meme Law) has been approved in committees at San Lázaro, Mexico's lower house of Congress, El Universal reports. According to the outlet, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) is outlining fines of up to 4 million pesos under the measure.
The bill's advancement has drawn attention to how it might affect online expression, including the sharing of memes. El Universal's headline links the committee approval directly to the potential penalty scale being weighed by IMPI.
The proposal has also prompted debate beyond the legislature. A specialist at IBERO, quoted by Prensa Ibero, said a revision to the "Anti-Meme" reform lowers some risks but still leaves questions about freedom of expression. Separately, Reforma reported that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (referred to as CSP) called it "an absolute lie" that the reform would prohibit memes.
Coverage of the measure has extended into commentary as well, with El Financiero publishing a piece titled "La piel gruesa del poder" and MILENIO running an article on Javier Corral and humor, reflecting broader discussion of the bill's implications.
The committee approval marks a procedural step rather than final passage, and the exact scope of the penalties and what content would fall under them remains to be clarified. Watch for the bill's next stage in the legislative process and any further details from IMPI on how the fines would be applied.
