With its approval, the Andean countries’ improved protection of intellectual property rights and "more expeditious and transparent procedures for trademark registration and patent issue," sent a "positive signal" to national and foreign investors.

Decision 486 addresses precise aspects of invention patents, industrial designs, trademarks, appellations of origin, and unfair competition connected with industrial property, among other things.

The new system incorporates substantive aspects of the TRIPS, such as national treatment, most-favored-nation treatment, layout designs (topographies) of integrated circuits –with reference to the treatment of microchips--, and the observation of national border measures for better control of smuggling.