Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office Expands International Cooperation Through Collaborative Patent Examination Initiatives

The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (INPI) has been expanding collaborative initiatives with neighboring intellectual property offices, including cooperation projects with institutions in Uruguay (DNPI) and Peru (INDECOPI). These initiatives reflect the Office’s commitment to promoting best practices, knowledge sharing, and greater harmonization of patent examination procedures.

In this context, INPI Brazil has officially launched the Collaborative Patent Examination Project with Peru’s National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI), based on the Bilateral Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two offices in 2025.

Soon afterwards, INPI Brazil also signed the project in collaboration with Uruguay’s National Directorate of Industrial Property and Software Registration (DNPI). The initiative is based on the Bilateral Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two offices in 2026, establishing the legal framework for collaborative examination activities and fostering closer cooperation between the patent authorities of Brazil and Uruguay.

• Revista da Propriedade Industrial Nº 2901 — 11 August 2026
• Revista da Propriedade Industrial Nº 2903 — 25 August 2026

Eligibility Criteria for the Pilot Project

According to the guidelines jointly established between the countries, the pilot project will focus on patent applications meeting the following criteria:

• Applications in the technical fields of pharmaceuticals (including pharmaceutical chemicals and biopharmaceuticals), biotechnology, and natural products;
• Applications filed through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system, with corresponding family members pending before both offices;
• Applications with filing dates before the Brazilian Patent Office falling within 2021 and 2023.

Selection and Accelerated Examination

Following a review of eligible applications, the INPI has selected patent applications that meet the established criteria for participation in the project.

The selected applications will be removed from the regular examination queue and will benefit from an accelerated substantive examination process.

INPI has also clarified that, for purposes of processing these applications within the collaborative examination framework, no preliminary technical office action will be issued. Participation in the project is intended exclusively to advance the timing of substantive examination.

Once examination has commenced, each application will continue to follow the standard patent examination procedures applicable before the Brazilian Patent Office.

Strengthening Regional Patent Cooperation

This initiative reflects the ongoing efforts of both patent offices to enhance efficiency, share technical expertise, and promote greater harmonization in patent examination practices across the region.

Collaborative examination programs have the potential to improve examination quality, reduce duplication of efforts, and provide applicants with more timely patent prosecution outcomes.

For patent applicants and rights holders operating in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and natural products sectors, this pilot project represents another positive step toward increased regional cooperation and greater efficiency within the Latin American patent system.

At Herrero & Asociados (H&A), our team in Brazil closely follows the latest legislative, regulatory and administrative developments affecting intellectual property and innovation. At the same time, our patent attorneys and patent specialists continuously update their knowledge and expertise to help companies, research institutions, startups and innovators navigate patent protection strategies both in Brazil and internationally.