IP is a common interest among BRIC countries

Last week the Brazilian Instituto Nacional da Propiedade Industrial (INPI) received leaders from the Chinese patent office (SIPO) and thus, consolidating a partnership which "can trace an outline of common interests among the BRIC countries" [aren’t we suppose to call this bloc the BRICS- now that South Africa has joined?]. In the agenda was, among other matters, “the expansion of technological cooperation agreement between the countries and encourage new forms of decentralization and the use of intellectual property in states and municipalities.”

INPI informs that the partnership between INPI and SIPO was consolidated in 2012 and was focused primarily on the training of patent examiners (three examiners of INPI have been trained in Beijing, China). They are now looking to extend the practice to the academic field, and thus, there is interest in establishing an interaction between universities and master's and doctoral programs. According to INPI, the aim is to develop research projects and international publications on innovation in the area of aviation.

Also, Brazilians have an interest in strengthening ties with China Intellectual Property Training Center (CIPTC) as well as to initiate a “pilot project examining patent shared via e-PCT (i.e. online services)”. SIPO will also send to INPI a model based on a contract established between the Chinese Training Center and the John Marshall Law School, Chicago [uh? replicating the Chinese model, which is a copy of the American model?! Well I guess the Chinese adapted it to their needs, right? …I wonder: what does the John Marshall Institute have to say about this?].

Forming an unified trend: Brazil and China

Last week, 16th February, the representatives of the Chinese Patent office (SIPO) visited the Brazilian Instituto Nacional da Propriedad Industrial (INPI).The group, which was formed by the vice president of the SIPO, Li Yuguang, and other three leaders of the office, met with INPI’s President Jorge Avila and directors of the Institute, aiming to discuss cooperation between SIPO and INPI.

In this regards, INPI informs that this is the “beginning of a process of cooperation between the two countries under the BRICs group”. The Chinese delegation attended the presentation on INPI’s activities in regards to patents and the Strategic Planning 2012/2015. Mr Avila discussed the forms of exchange and bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of training and management and stressed the importance of the meeting for both countries – also emphasized by Li Yuguang. Next, the Brazilian delegation will visit Beijing, where SIPO is located.

In May last year, the Financial Times (FT) published an article called Brazil and China: the ‘perfect match’, in which it noted: “Each country has what the other lacks”. The article refers pretty much on the trade between the countries but certainly with this new movement Brazil is continuing to play its strategies and using important trade partners in other areas which at the end have the same aim: protecting industries.

Source INPI.

BRIC and Prosur in INPI’s Agenda

INPI’s President in Brazil, Mr Jorge Avila will participate in the 'IP Week and Open Innovation' to be held in Brussels, Belgium, between 6th and 9th December. The event will discuss strategies, trends and challenges for innovation and intellectual property to contribute to the current scenario of global economic crisis.

INPI informs that “one of the highlights is the role of intellectual property in the so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China)”. It added that it is included talks with South Africa on regards to international cooperation mechanisms, such as Prosur. With the participation of nine South American countries, Prosur accounts with the financial support of the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB). The project aims is improve services to users of the IP system and thus integrates IP offices in the region.

“THE CHALLENGES OF SECURING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN EMERGING MARKETS”

The so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are holding an IP FORUM in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from the 2nd until the 5th of December. The title of the forum (title of today's post) appears to invite the audience to be aware of the IP system in these countries.

Speakers are mostly advocates and also officers from Trade mark/Patent Institutes. Apart from the issue of these four countries, there is going to be three more general sessions regarding IP in Latin America. For these sessions lawyers from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela will discuss hot topics such as: trade mark fair use, parallel imports and border measures.

Registration is now open.

You can examine the program here.