IPTango

Wednesday, 11 November 2020

You reap what you sow: Brazil participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway

Patricia Covarrubia November 11, 2020 No comments:

The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program is a fast-track examination of a patent application; an applicant request this accelerated process in the national phase which originated on a foreign office and national patent examiners can use the opinion and preliminary examination from the foreign office. The program aims to promote sharing the work among patent offices but the decision of granting patents still remains under the national office. The program run among offices where they agree to share this practice (for more information see WIPO). Brazil does not form part of the Global PPH as its counterparts Chile, Colombia, and Peru; but since 2016, the office has had several bilateral PCT-PPH agreements: European Patent Office (EPO), PROSUR (pilot), Danish Patent and Trademark Office; United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, United States Patent and Trademark Office and Japan Patent Office.

Speedy 'Patent' Gonzales

Four years on and the office is noticing an increase in a patent application using the fast-track. This November the Brazilian Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial INPI published the figures noting that ‘from 268 applications in 2019 to 340 by October 2020. Giving an explanation on this fact it recalled that the PPH just started to accept patent processes in any technological field. Back in 2016, the PPH was applicable to the ‘oil, gas, and petrochemical industry’ only. Moreover, just 200 applications were to be accepted while nowadays the number has increased to 400 applications.

INPI also praised that the average time for assessing priority processing requirements has decreased from an average time of 220 days (2018) to 104 days (2020). This is due to ‘simplifying the process flow and using new information technology tools ‘.

According to the Global Innovation Index published by WIPO, in 2020, Brazil ranked 62^nd among 131 economies (innovation inputs 59; innovation outputs 64); ranking 4^th among Latin America and the Caribbean economies.

The future of Geographical Indications – we need you

Patricia Covarrubia November 09, 2020 No comments:

The website of the International Conference ‘Worldwide Perspectives on Geographical Indications’ has arrived. As far as the plan is (we cannot predict what Covid-19 restrictions will be in place), this would be held in beautiful Rome, Italy on 6-9 July 2021 at the FAO headquarters.

Geographical Indications are ‘signs’ used on products such as spirits (‘tequila’ in Mexico), wines (Vale dos Vinhedos’ in Brazil), food (‘Quinoa Real’ in Bolivia), handicraft (‘Montecristi’ in Ecuador) that have a specific geographical origin (the reason for its name/label).

Why do we need you?

The conference is an interdisciplinary affair and aims to listen to everyone in the area of agriculture and trade linked to GIs– we mean, EVERYONE. From public authorities to producers, policymakers to practitioners and stakeholders to academics, you name it, and we will have a space for you.

There is a call for contributions divided into FOUR categories: 1) Defining GIs, you can expect here the obvious origin deliberation but…yes, I like this part ‘GIs and innovation’ covering technology, and methods. I am quite interested in this as we understand that while one of the keys of a GI is linked to the know-how that has been used for decades or even centuries, we cannot expect for them to be kept like that due to climate change, deterioration of resources, etc., there needs to be some flexibility for innovation without deteriorating the GI as such; 2) Managing GIs – covering governance, control, certification mechanisms, enforcement and including marketing; 3) GIs and sustainability covering the heated debate ‘climate change’, this category seeks to evaluate GIs impact (be it economic, social, environmental; cultural, etc.); finally 4) GI and consumers, we all know that GIs without consumers is like having ‘fish’ without ‘chips’ (for my British readers), so this category aims to look at the impact that GI may have on diets and looking at different labels that are used to link a product to a locality.

We are looking for participants around the world and I am indeed looking for participants from developing countries (check fees and financial support). To submit your contribution and abstract of no more than 500 words is needed -- deadline is before 18 December 2020. The beauty is that contributions can be in Spanish (cough cough my Latin American friends), English or French (simultaneous translation will be available on the date).

For the full invitation check here. For the submission of contribution check here. When accessing the page, just tap (left-hand side corner) for the desired language.

Indigenous Land as a Geographical Indication

Patricia Covarrubia October 27, 2020 No comments:

‘INPI grants first denomination of origin to indigenous people’

This is the title that the Brazilian Institute Nacional da Propiedad Industrial (INPI) uses for its headlines. My mind started to think of other cases in which a national IPO has recognized in one way or another indigenous peoples and communities. The first, that came into my mind was ‘Tejedurias Wayuu’ [maybe because I love a pretty bag –Xmas list (husband, are you reading this?] (Resolution 71098, 07 Dec 2011) which is a recognized Colombian Denomination of Origin (DO) and it refers to handicraft made by the women from the Wayuu tribe. The second example that came into mind was again from Colombia, the ‘Sombrero Zenu’ (DO) (Resolution 71097 07 Dec 2011) for a hat made by the Zenú Indigenous Reservation [husband, I don't want a hat or a new pot!]. ore in DOs in Colombia here.

Going back to the title and Brazil, the news was a bit different from what I was expecting. Why? you may ask. The Geographical Indication (GI) granted is the name of an Indigenous land and this is something new to me in the recognition of indigenous peoples on GI. In my previous examples, the DOs name refer to the peoples rather than to the land. While GI usually, if not always refers to the link with the region, or better say, the origin in a given ‘place’ - the terroir, the Colombian examples refer to the people.

Moreover, Brazil and more specifically, the INPI is recognizing the ‘Andirá-Marau’ (RPI 2598, 20 Oct 2020) an Indigenous Land as a GI for warana (native guarana) and warana bread (guarana stick). It is the first GI in the form of DO in Brazil to be used by indigenous people, which as noted in my thoughts, refers to the land. Conflicts over indigenous lands and territories have always existed and continue to exist. In this particular GI case, while we may appreciate the recognition of the government and state over the Andirá-Marau Indigenous land, the reality is that there is a pending conflict between the ownership of the area. The area was demarcated in 1982 and approved in 1986, which covers approx. 7,885 square kilometers (3,044 square miles) (Decreto 93.069 - 07/08/1986); Indigenous lands are administratively demarcated by the Fundação Nacional do Índio (FUNAI). Since 2002, the Sateré-Mawé people have asked FUNAIL to correct the boundaries of the Indigenous Andirá-Marau land so that it ‘corresponds to the area they actually occupy’.

The INPI reports that local biome in the ‘Andirá-Marau’ Indigenous land and the know-how of the indigenous Sateré-Mawé people play a key role in obtaining a differentiated product.

Brazil on Patents

Patricia Covarrubia October 26, 2020 No comments:

During last week 19-22 October 2020, the Brazilian Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI) celebrated the YEAR AWARD run by the Brazilian Intellectual Property Association (ABPI). The later was celebrating the 40^th ABPI International Intellectual Property Congress.

This year, the award was aiming to reward the best patent in the area of COVID-19 looking for the following criteria: generating both social and potentially economic benefits; environmental impact; international protection and, the participation of nationals in developing the invention.

Twelve made it to the shortlist. The judging committee composed of three professors from the INPI's Postgraduate and Research Division granted the award to PI0903266-5 ‘Method and probe to aspirate endobronchial secretion’, belonging to the Federal University of Minas Gerais.

In the same line, in September, the INPI did a study to framework patents and industrial design in the field of ‘mask and respirators’. The goal was to provide information to various actors and thus, the data obtained covered: recent decades and, national and foreign applications. A summary of the data can be obtained here (in Portuguese) and for the full study here (in Portuguese). The nutshell of this info is that the increase in this field was noticed in 2020 and that in general there were more industrial design applications that patents – most applications came from The United States, and nationally, from the state of São Paulo.

CERLALC y el Instituto de Derecho de Autor: Octava Edición del Premio Antonio Delgado

IPTango October 24, 2020 No comments:

El Centro Regional para el Fomento del Libro en América Latina y el Caribe (CERLALC) y el Instituto de Derecho de Autor publicaron la convocatoria de la octava edición del Premio Antonio Delgado (PAD).

La edición PAD de este año consta de dos categorías:

Categoría: Investigación en derechos de autor y conexos

Los trabajos que se presenten deberán abordan temas de actualidad en materia de derechos de autor y derechos conexos, “desde una perspectiva de derecho nacional o internacional, tanto público como privado”.

Deberán estar escritos en español, con una extensión mínima de 40 páginas y máxima de 400 páginas.

El premio para el estudio ganador consiste en €4,000, gastos de traslado y alojamiento en Madrid para asistir a la ceremonia de premiación, así como la publicación en formato físico y Epub. El premio para el estudio finalista consiste en €2,000.

Los trabajos deberán enviarse al correo pad@institutoautor.org con copia a fforero@cerlalc.org antes del 7 de febrero de 2021.

Categoría: Divulgación de la Propiedad Intelectual

La categoría fue creada este año con el objetivo de reconocer y otorgar “una distinción a una persona, física o jurídica, cualquiera que sea su nacionalidad, que con sus acciones haya contribuido al desarrollo, fortalecimiento o defensa del Derecho de la Propiedad Intelectual y/o los derechos de los autores, con independencia de la actividad profesional que desarrolle habitualmente.”

Aquellos que deseen postular a personas o empresas que consideren merecedoras de dicha distinción, podrán enviar un email a pad@institutoautor.org indicando “de manera suficientemente motivada” las razones para dicha postulación.

Más información aquí y aquí.

Imagen de Free-Photos en Pixabay.

WIPO Conversation on IP and AI (Third Session): the deadline for those who want to intervene is approaching!

Verónica Rodríguez Arguijo October 18, 2020 No comments:

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will hold the Third Session of the WIPO Conversation on IP and AI on 4 November 2020 from 10 am to 4 pm CET.

The virtual meeting is open to the public, and it is possible to register here.

The provisional agenda is already available. The topics refer to the following issues that were included in the Revised Issues Paper on Intellectual Property Policy and Artificial Intelligence (which contains the results of the public consultation launched after the first session took place):

Issue 1: Definitions
Issue 13: Trademarks (as it was announced here)
Issue 15: Capacity Building
Issue 16: Accountability for Decisions in IP Administration

Registrants who want to intervene in the meeting must send an email to ai2ip@wipo.int before 21 October 2020, ¨setting out, with reference to the agenda the issue (or issues) on which they wish to speak [and] where possible, to share their interventions in writing so that the WIPO Secretariat can provide these in advance to the interpreters¨.

Review here and here more information about the Third Session of the WIPO Conversation on IP and AI.

Read here about the Second Session, which was held from 7 to 9 July 2020.

Find here more information about the First Session, which took place in September 2019.

Image of Gerd Altmann on Pixabay.

Brazil: First Anniversary of the Madrid Protocol

Patricia Covarrubia October 13, 2020 No comments:

The Madrid Protocol has been running for over 30 years (June, 1989). With it, the flexibility to the Madrid System has seen an increased number in international trade mark registrations. After three decades, the system expanded to cover Latin America and the Caribbean (Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Cuba, and Mexico).

In 2019, WIPO reports that there has been over 60,000 international applications marking a 10th year of uninterrupted growth. While the main driver of the overall rise comes from the US (37%), followed by Germany and France; tailed by Switzerland, the UK, Japan, Italy, Australia, and Turkey.

Brazil, celebrating its 1^st anniversary (a member since 2^nd Oct 2019) has received 109 international applications from national users. This has also facilitated the use of the Madrid system by trade marks holders located in other countries and thus, Brazil hit the 7,896 number from international users indicating Brazil as their designated country (INPI
here).

To read the full data, click here.

What's going on this week? Do not forget to review the "Events" web page!

Verónica Rodríguez Arguijo October 13, 2020 No comments:

As IPTango readers are aware, we have been publishing an article concerning the events that will take place every week.

Fecha límite para la próxima edición de la Revista Iberoamericana de la Propiedad Intelectual (RIPI)

IPTango October 10, 2020 No comments:

El equipo editorial de la Revista Iberoamericana de la Propiedad Intelectual (RIPI) nos ha pedido difundir entre nuestros lectores que, el 31 de octubre de 2020 es la fecha límite para la recepción de artículos que se publicarán en el próximo número.

Asimismo, nos han compartido que, a partir de la próxima edición, la Universidad Panamericana (México) colaborará con la Universidad Austral (Argentina) y la Universidad de La Sabana (Colombia) en la publicación de RIPI.

De igual manera, nos han revelado que, RIPI cambiará de formato con el objetivo de adaptarse a los estándares de publicaciones científicas.

Más información aquí.

Imagen de StartupStockPhotos en Pixabay.

En memoria de Hugo Contreras Lamadrid, Director General del Instituto Nacional del Derecho de Autor

IPTango October 09, 2020 No comments:

El equipo de IPTango se une a la pena que embarga a familiares, amigos y colaboradores por el fallecimiento de Hugo Contreras Lamadrid, Director General del Instituto Nacional del Derecho de Autor (INDAUTOR).

El Profesor Gustavo Schötz comparte con nuestros lectores una semblanza sobre Hugo Contreras Lamadrid:

De modo sorpresivo, a sus 54 años, falleció Hugo Contreras Lamadrid.

Se graduó como Licenciado en Derecho por la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Contaba estudios de Maestría y una Especialidad en Derecho de la Propiedad Intelectual por la División de Posgrado de la Facultad de Derecho de la UNAM y una especialidad en Derecho Civil por la Universidad Panamericana.

Fue Director del Seminario de Derecho Procesal de la UNAM, donde fue distinguido con la Cátedra Extraordinaria “José Castillo Larrañaga”.

Desde 2018 fue el Director General del Instituto Nacional del Derecho de Autor (INDAUTOR). Fue Representante de México en el Comité Permanente de Derecho de Autor y Derechos Conexos (SCCR) de la OMPI.

Entre 2012 y 2014 fue co-fundador y Director de la Revista Derecho sin Fronteras, publicación jurídica sobre derecho constitucional, procesal, propiedad intelectual, derecho sanitario y derecho penal.

Fue Profesor Invitado de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, la Universidad del Salvador y la Universidad Austral, de Argentina.

Se especializó en la resolución alternativa de conflictos, especialmente la mediación, y abogaba para una más extensa aplicación de esta figura para resolver los conflictos vinculados al derecho de autor.

En lo personal, fue un gran amigo y colega. Nos conocimos hace 10 años, con ocasión de un seminario conjunto entre la UNAM y la Universidad Austral sobre patentes en biotecnología y datos de prueba en biosimilares, en Buenos Aires. Compartimos la organización y exposición en varios cursos y programas de televisión, ya que fue productor de Derecho sin Fronteras en el canal de la UNAM. En 2012, se incorporó al Consejo de Redacción de la Revista Iberoamericana de la Propiedad Intelectual (RIPI).

Luego vino su nombramiento en el INDAUTOR y coincidimos en el SCCR de la OMPI, donde impulsamos distintas iniciativas, siempre en el marco del GRULAC. Fue un gusto y un honor compartir esos momentos con Hugo.

Siempre fue muy trabajador y dedicado. Apasionado docente. Se podía hablar con confianza y tenía posiciones muy constructivas.

Conocimos a su familia, Inés y sus hijos, con quienes compartimos la aflicción que los embarga. Para Hugo, la familia siempre estaba en el primer lugar de sus conversaciones.

Te extrañaremos Hugo.