Latest updates
Operating virtually in pursuit of greater effectiveness
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 05 April 2021
Over the past year the Brazilian courts and the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office have been adapting to the new reality brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of these judicial and administrative changes, the Brazilian IP landscape is becoming increasingly favourable for entrepreneurs and companies. While Brazil still has a long way to go, the government's pursuit of greater effectiveness in its judicial and IP systems is commendable.
Off-field football dispute: Brazilian spray patent battle
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 29 March 2021
A patent dispute about a spray used to mark the distance between the defenders and the ball when a free kick is taken in football is ongoing in Brazil. The spray's inventor filed an infringement action against the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), which was rejected on the grounds that the inventor had not proved that the products used by FIFA corresponded to infringed copies of his products or that any damage had been caused. The inventor has appealed this decision.
New guidelines for examining patent applications that involve computer-implemented inventions
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 22 March 2021
In recent years, the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office has taken actions to improve IP protection policies. As such, it recently published the Guidelines for Examining Patent Applications Involving Computer-Implemented Inventions. The new guidelines were long overdue, considering that technology and intelligent systems (eg, the Internet of Things and AI) are becoming increasingly integrated into everyday life.
Life and death: protecting legacy through IP rights
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 15 March 2021
Although Diego Maradona assigned all of his trademark rights to Sattvica before his death, the Brazilian Patents and Trademarks Office rejected the company's application to register the trademark MARADONA in Brazil based on the Trademark Law. This article discusses the registration of proper names as trademarks and explores the measures that parties can take to ensure that the legacy and goodwill associated with their intellectual property is preserved after their death.
Do ANVISA's new guidelines jeopardise the patentability of patent applications?
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 08 March 2021
The National Health Surveillance Agency recently published four guidelines on its prior consent procedure, which all pharmaceutical patent applications in Brazil must undergo before the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BRPTO) conducts the technical examination. However, applicants should remember that the final decision on the patentability of pharmaceutical patent applications is made exclusively by the BRPTO.
Trademark co-ownership finally possible in Brazil
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 01 March 2021
The Brazilian Trademark Office recently took an important step towards fully implementing the Madrid Protocol by approving the trademark co-ownership regime for national applications and registrations. This article outlines some of the most important points that trademark practitioners should consider when dealing with applications and registrations under a co-ownership regime in Brazil.
Legislative overview – Brazil
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 22 February 2021
This article provides an overview of the regulation and enforcement of IP rights in Brazil. It also examines recent developments, such as the project to reduce the patent backlog and the ongoing case before the Supreme Court concerning the constitutionality of Article 40 of the IP Law.
Growing e-commerce market entails increased brand protection measures
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 15 February 2021
According to the latest Webshoppers report, Brazilian e-commerce grew by 47% in the first half of 2020, the highest recorded increase in the past 20 years. There is therefore an increased need to protect trademarks in the digital environment. Engaging online brand protection services can be an effective method of mitigating all forms of trademark abuse online, enabling owners to consistently enforce their brand rights.
Ministry of Economy launches National Strategy for Intellectual Property
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 01 February 2021
The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. At the ceremony, the special government body of the Ministry of Economy launched the National Strategy for Intellectual Property (ENPI). The ENPI's objective is to achieve an effective and well-known national IP system, which encourages creativity and investment in innovation in order to increase competitiveness and socioeconomic development in Brazil.
Trade dress protection: a glimpse at the beverage market
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 25 January 2021
In Brazil, trade dress protection is supported in several regulations, all under the concept of unfair competition. Trade dress protection has also been widely acknowledged by the courts, and case law has been an important source of its doctrinal foundation. This article looks at trade dress protection in the beverage sector and examines several decisions which have granted such protection for types of beer, vodka and wine.
BRPTO anticipates Phase II of Patent Prosecution Highway Programme
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 18 January 2021
Ordinance 404 recently came into force, establishing Phase II of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Programme in Brazil. Phase II was published by the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office in the last week of 2020 and modifies the limits and requirements for requesting participation in the PPH Programme. With this new phase of the PPH Programme, the previous Resolution 252 (establishing Phase I) has been revoked.
Court Injunctions Recognize Foreign Trademark Rights
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 15 May 2000
A federal court has granted preliminary injunctions in two cases involving the registration of internationally well-known trademarks – ‘Air New Zealand’ and ‘America On Line’.
Court Finds TRIPS Effective
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 15 May 2000
A federal court recently decided that the TRIPS agreement does not need to be implemented by national legislation for its provisions to be enforceable in Brazil. Therefore, the protected term of a patent is now 20 years, up from 15.
Courts Decide Important Trademark and Domain Name Cases
Montaury Pimenta, Machado & Vieira de Mello- Intellectual Property
- Brazil
- 19 April 2000
Two important cases have been decided: one grants a preliminary injunction in a case involving the registration of an internationally well-known trademark, and the other recognizes a relation between a registered trademark and an unregistered domain name.
