Advancing IP in Brazil: BPTO’s 2026 vision for trademarks and industrial designs
The article outlines the Brazilian PTO’s key initiatives for 2026 in trademarks and industrial designs, focusing on modernization, improved examination consistency, and expanded priority procedures. It also highlights refinements to the high-renown trademark regime and the growth and restructuring of the industrial design system. Overall, it points to greater efficiency, predictability, and alignment with international practices.
Argentina Raises IP Fees: What foreign rights holders need to know
Argentina's INPI has approved Resolution 75/2026, updating all IP fees from 1 April 2026 and introducing the UMAPI — a new unit updated monthly against inflation. Here is what it means for your portfolio.
A mixed outcome. Argentina repeals restrictions on pharmaceutical patentability
Argentina eliminates the 2012 restrictive guidelines regarding pharmaceutical patents but introduces regulatory exceptions to the exercise of rights, generating legal uncertainty.
Brazil’s Patent Office clarifies key procedures: what Ordinance 01/2026 means for applicants
By means of Ordinance 01 of March 10, 2026, the BRPTO establishes specific requirements and procedural rules for requests involving the withdrawal of patent applications, abandonment of applications, waiver of granted patents, and withdrawal of petitions filed during patent prosecution.
Mexico: IMPI Introduces Significant Changes to Patent and Utility Model Examination Procedures
The amendment introduces important changes to the substantive examination procedure for patent and utility model applications in Mexico, which will have a direct impact on patent prosecution strategy.
H&A, a leading trademark firm according to the WTR 1000 2026 ranking
Herrero & Asociados (H&A) has once again been recognized in the international WTR 1000 2026 ranking as a leading trademark firm, together with several professionals highlighted in different categories for their excellence in trademark law.
1st Ordinary Public Meeting in 2026 of the Board of Directors of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in Brazil discusses the regulation of medicinal cannabis production
Three Resolutions from the Board of Directors were presented to address issues of access to products and scientific research initiatives which, according to the President of Anvisa (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency), fulfill the role of the Health Surveillance Agency in "providing responsible, evidence-based regulatory responses so that the patient is at the center of decisions.". The regulation is exclusively for medicinal purposes and considers all established sanitary rules. The President of Anvisa states that this is a step that brings concrete hope to thousands of Brazilian families.
Record numbers of applications are the highlight in IP statistics for 2025 in Brazil
Released on January 19, 2025, INPI published the December 2025 Monthly Industrial Property Bulletin, which presents statistics on applications in the country and demonstrates a significant increase in the volume of applications in various categories, notably patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and computer programs.
From patent to brand: the Aspirin case as a lesson in industrial property strategy
The history of Aspirin is a paradigmatic example of how strategic management of industrial property can turn innovation into a lasting asset. Beyond the initial patent, the combination of branding, secondary patents and differentiation allowed it to remain relevant for decades.
EPO Official Fees Increasing in 2026 : Time to act
The EPO has announced an increase of around 5% in most official fees, effective from 1 April 2026. Find out which fees will be affected and when the changes will apply.
New Regulation (EU) 2025/2645: EU compulsory licenses for crisis management
Regulation (EU) 2025/2645 establishes a European system of compulsory licenses as a measure of last resort to ensure the supply of essential products during crises or emergencies within the EU.
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.
H&A wishes you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2026
Let’s celebrate Christmas and welcome 2026 with enthusiasm. We wish you peaceful holidays and a year full of shared growth.
Maldives introduces its first trade mark registration system in 2026
The Maldives Trade Marks Bill introduces a modern registration system, granting exclusive rights, enforcement mechanisms, and a 12-month transition period for existing marks.
Priority Patent Processing in Brazil (PPH, GPPH, and other modalities)
The BPTO offers priority processing for applications involving the protection of industrial property rights through the use of patents. The legislation covers various modalities and situations that allow for priority processing. Priority processing represents a valuable instrument for companies and inventors who work with innovation and wish to transform their solutions into competitive advantages quickly and safely.
