The Brazilian Patent Office (BPO) joins the Global PPH program

The Brazilian Patent Office (BPO) joined the Global PPH program on July 6th.

In a recently published Relevant Notice, the BPO informed that “with a focus on optimizing patent processes and increasing Brazil's inclusion in the Global Intellectual Property System, the BPO will join, on July 6th, the Global Patent Prosecution Highway program (Global PPH or GPPH), whose secretariat is held 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 processing 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. Currently, the BPO has bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (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 will remain valid until the publication of new rules for the inclusion of the GPPH. The results of exams from the new partner offices can only be used from there. It is worth noting that the BPO is regulating the entry in the GPPH and will provide more information soon.

We will keep you duly informed in due course.