11 July, 2024

INPI: Brazil joins the Global PPH program

The BPTO of Brazil joined the Global PPH program to optimize patent procedures and increase global participation. This expands its cooperation agreements from 23 to 35 offices. Current rules remain valid until new regulations are published.

With the aim of optimizing patent procedures and increasing Brazil’s participation in the Global Intellectual Property System, the BPTO joined, on July 6th, the Global Patent Prosecution Highway program (Global PPH or GPPH), whose secretariat is carried out by the Japan Patent Office (JPO).

The GPPH is a multilateral cooperation program between intellectual property offices, with the participation of 27 IP offices. It aims to accelerate the prosecution of patent applications by sharing the examination of any participating office, which indicates the existence of patentable matter, including the results obtained under the Patent Cooperation Treaty – PCT.

Currently, the BPTO has bilateral PPH agreements with 23 national or regional partner offices. With GPPH membership, the number of partner offices will increase to 35.

The current PPH rules, established by Ordinance INPI/PR nº 78/2022, will remain valid until the publication of a new standard. Under current terms, patent applications must belong to a patent family whose oldest patent application has been filed with the INPI or any partner Institute, acting as a national or regional office or, within the scope of the PCT, acting as a Receiving Body.

Therefore, exam results from new partner offices can only be used after the publication of the new standard. It is worth noting that the BPTO is regulating the topic and will provide more information soon.

Head of H&A Brazil. Lawyer.