JETRO Topics
Brazil Intellectual Property Seminar welcoming President Pimentel of National Institute of Industrial Property
August 2017
Facilitating innovation by protecting industrial intellectual property
On August 2, JETRO jointly held the Brazil Intellectual Property Seminar with the Japan Patent Office inviting President Luiz Otávio Pimentel of the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). Brazilian Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago was also present. It was joined by approximately 100 Japanese business people with an interest in recent measures taken by the government, which has taken an active stance toward speeding up patent examination with the announcement of its action plan this May.
In his speech, President Pimentel emphasized that the Brazilian government has been jointly making efforts to facilitate innovation with industry and academia in order to resolve problems in the protection of intellectual property as its top priority. He continued to explain that the government has been improving the environment surrounding intellectual property by updating the Innovation Law, which is fundamental to the promotion of innovation in Brazil.
Seminar joined by numerous Japanese business people
Strengthening activities for resolving backlog problem
Following that, regarding the backlog problem in handling applications for patents and trademarks, which has been attentively watched by Japanese companies over the years, Pedro Areas Burlandy, General Coordinator of Planning and Strategic Management, stated that INPI is currently considering measures including capacity building, the hiring of additional patent examiners and improvement of procedures. Júlio César Castelo Branco Reis Moreira; Director of Patents, Computer Programs and Topographies of Integrated Circuits; declared that his institute is digitizing application documents with the aim of expediting the examining process. André Luis Balloussier Ancora da Luz; Director of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications; spoke on the improved speed of trademark examinations as well as government efforts toward ensuring notification of examination results within 18 months of application, as required by the Madrid Protocol, showing data reflecting progress made by the institute in recent years.
Prior to the seminar, the Japan Patent Office and INPI concluded a memorandum of cooperation aiming at closer collaboration in the field of industrial intellectual property. It is expected that the MOC will promote a business environment which can properly secure and protect the intellectual property possessed by Japanese companies in Brazil. In addition to participating in the seminar, President Pimentel and his delegation also visited Japanese companies and associations related to intellectual property during their stay in Japan and exchanged opinions concerning actions to resolve the backlog problem which INPI is dealing with.
Speech by President Pimentel
Speech by Mr. Burlandy
Speech by Mr. Moreira
Speech by Mr. Balloussier Ancora
Outline of seminar
| Date and time | August 2 (Wed), 2017 from 14:00 to 16:45 |
|---|---|
| Venue | JETRO Tokyo Headquarters, Exhibition Hall, 5th floor, |
| Organizers |
Japan Patent Office Japan External Trade Organization |
| Participants | Approx. 100 |
| Program |
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