BRPTO Suspends Fast-Track Examination for H04 Patent Application
Ordinance #17/2025, published on December 16, 2025, by the Brazilian PTO established the temporary suspension of priority examination procedures for patent applications whose main IPC classification is H04. With the exception of specific fast-track examination categories, there is no forecast for the resumption of priority requests for H04 patent applications.
By means of Ordinance 17/2025, published on December 16, 2025, the BPTO has established the temporary suspension of any kind of fast-track examination procedure, including PPH request, for patent applications whose main classification is H04, according to the International Patent Classification (IPC), effective as of January 1, 2026. The exception applies only to the categories of elderly applicants, applicants with disabilities, applicants suffering from serious diseases, and startups.
Throughout the year, the BPTO had already been regulating the capacity of requests related to patent applications whose main IPC classification is H04 (Telecommunication).
The criteria and requirements for fast-track examination procedures set forth in Ordinances 79/2022 and 48/2024 remain fully in effect for applications classified under other patent classifications, including the established limits on PPH requests: 800 requests per quarter, totaling 3200 requests per year.
There is no forecast for the resumption of priority requests for applications classified as H04, however the PPH program is expected to remain in 2026.
Rafaela Mattos
Patent Advisor. Lawyer.