Brazil updates patent procedures

On 23 September, the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) published two new regulations that will modify patent procedures when they come into force in October.

 

Ordinance INPI/DIRPA No. 14/2024, which will take effect on 3 October, introduces specifications regarding the form and content of patent applications and supplementary certificates, adapting certain requirements to the electronic format. The main changes include the definition of the end of the examination procedure based on the date of publication of the decision in the Official Gazette and the possibility of splitting applications ex officio during the opposition stage. In addition, corrections to applications must include both comparative and revised versions.

 

Ordinance INPI/DIRPA No. 20/2024, which comes into force on 17 October, simplifies the procedures for transferring ownership and updating data by eliminating the requirement for sworn translations of foreign documents.