U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue
U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue
Intellectual Property and Innovation Working Group
The Intellectual Property (IP) and Innovation Working Group promotes U.S.-Brazil trade and investment by encouraging IP office cooperation and supporting cross-sector innovation initiatives. The major topics currently on the agenda of the IP and Innovation Working Group are: (1) the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot; (2) Cooperation on IP Office Administration and Examination issues (3) Innovation.
The Patent Prosecution Highway
During the 13th U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue in November 2015, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Brazil’s National Institute for Industrial Property (INPI) agreed to establish a PPH Pilot Program. This PPH agreement will streamline the patent examination process to reduce patent workloads and further improve patent quality at both offices. The USPTO and INPI launched this Pilot on January 11, 2016. Under the Pilot, an applicant who receives a favorable patentability ruling on from one office may request the other to expedite the examination of a commonly filed application. This fast-track program will allow both offices to leverage each other’s work product and reduce their respective patent backlogs. The USPTO intends to promote the program in the United States and assist INPI promote the program in Brazil. Strong use and successful implementation of the Pilot will provide both sides an incentive to expand the scope of the program.
USPTO-INPI Cooperation
The USPTO and INPI continue to reaffirm their cooperation in exchanging examination practices and procedures. USPTO has led technical discussions at INPI on topic including: the U.S. patent prosecution process, USPTO Patent Administration; and the USPTO Telework program and Regional offices. In addition to this, the USPTO and INPI continue to share office administration information including annual reports, filings, employee numbers and quality initiatives.
Innovation
The United States and Brazil continue to seek ways to collaborate on the promotion and support of innovation. These initiatives include supporting the Brazilian participation in the Fifth Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) April 2016, and coordinating a Brazilian delegation visit to the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) Advanced Manufacturing laboratory in Youngstown, OH.
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