Introduction

On the event of 50^th anniversary of the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO), Carlos Da Costa, the Secretary from the special Secretariat for productivity, Employment (SEPEC) along with the special body of the Ministry of Economy (MoE) launched the National Strategy for Intellectual Property (ENPI) on 11^th of December 2020.

BPTO

INPI- Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) was created in 1970. It functions as a subordinate to the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. The main aim of the body is to implement the rules modulating the Industrial Property while considering the technical, social, judicial and economic purposes. The institute also provides for various IP registrations in the country such as Patent and Trademark registration, industrial design registration, Geographical Indication registration etc.

ENAPID

The day also marked the culmination of the Academic Meeting on the Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development (ENAPID). The event was held online 9^th  to 11^th  December, 2020. It is regarded as one of the important events of Intellectual Property and innovation in Brazil. The theme for ENAPID 2020 was “INPI of the Future – INPI+ 50”.

During the course of the meeting, various strategic projects undertaken by the BPTO were discussed in detail. Followings are current projects undertaken by the BPTO:

• The plan for tackling the issue of Patent Backlog
• The IP Digital Plan, aiming at modifying BPTO services to electronic environments
• The BPTO Business Programme,  aiming to advance the inception of new IP assets by the citizens of the country
• The operationalization of the Madrid Protocol

National Strategy for Intellectual Property

The aim of ENPI is to establish an efficient and effective IP system throughout the country. The objective is to foster creativity and investment in innovation in order to increase the socioeconomic development and competitiveness in the country.

During the course of its enactment the main problems and challenges of IP in the country were identified and was scrutinized  into the seven lines of action on which the ENPI is based. They are the following-

1. To increase competition and development
2. Providing trainings and qualifications in IP
3. Governance and institutional buildup
4. Upgrading the laws
5. Compliance and legal certainty
6. Future vision and Intelligence ‘
7. Introduction of Brazil into the IP Global World

Each line of action for the consist of various group acts which are aimed at attacking the issue of IP problems and challenges that the country is facing. In total of 210 actions are enacted in order to modify the IP system of the country.

The detailing of the activities proposed in the ENPI will be done as per the priorities identified by the public during the public consultation phase and with the government. Further it will be organized in the pioneer action plans which aim at guaranteed implementation and monitoring of the same. On the basis of the end results and suggestions necessary amendments and introductions would be inculcated in the new plan.

 

GIPI

The National Strategy for Intellectual Property (ENPI) is a result of one year of hard work contributed by a select group of bodies involved  in IP matters (GIPI).  It involved a contribution of more than 220 IP specialists along with 98 contributions of individuals during the public consultation phase. The project also witnessed a great amount of representation and support from the private sector which includes the Brazilian IP Association. The structure and constitution of the GIPI makes it a diverse community of people. The association is chaired by the special Secretary of the Ministry Of Economy, Carlos Da Costa, and comprises of 10 members from various ministries and administrative bodies in the country.

The main goal of ENPI as stated by the GIPI is to establish Brazil among the top countries in respect to protection of IP rights and enabling  80% of the national innovation companies to  protect their intellectual property.

The First Action Plan

The first action plan is estimated to be implemented during the first half of 2021 along with the launching of National Intellectual Property Portal.  Firstly the portal in its initial stage will gather   all the information about the ENPI, letting it process and monitor.  Later the portal will centralize all the Government information and links in relation to intellectual property.