Reducing patent examination timelines to two years from filing is a direct request from the Brazilian Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services (MDIC), Geraldo Alckmin. This was revealed by Juliana Ghizzi Pires, Director of the Department of Intellectual Property Policy and Quality Infrastructure at the Ministry, in the plenary session discussing the Brazilian National IP Plan. “It’s not an easy goal, but the demand was given by the minister, and it will be met gradually,” she clarified.
To achieve this goal, the BPTO will initially gain 120 examiner positions. However, according to her, this is just one of several measures to be taken. Another government effort that might impact patent granting timelines is working towards a “potential legislative modification” in Article 33 – and consequently, a change in Article 32 of the Brazilian Industrial Property Law (IPL 9.279/96). The government will conduct a public consultation to gather input for the amendment to the Law on a yet-to-be-announced date.
According to the director, four other measures are being developed within GIPI to enhance Brazil’s Intellectual Property system. These include training and empowering society in IP, mapping innovation supply and demand in the market, promoting sustainable businesses, and supporting the missions of CNDI (Brazilian National Council of Industrial Development). “We do not view Intellectual Property as an end but as a means to pursue development and social equality,” Juliana concluded.
