News

The 2025 Web Summit, one of the world’s largest and most influential technology and innovation events, is underway in Lisbon, gathering global leaders, investors, and startups from over 160 countries to discuss the future of the digital economy, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and emerging trends in entrepreneurship. The event runs from November 10 to 13.

This year, the state of Piauí stands out with Brazil’s largest delegation at the event, composed of more than 100 business leaders and entrepreneurs, along with 34 startups (18 represented by Startup Piauí and 16 by Sebrae). The strong presence results from a joint initiative led by Investe Piauí, in collaboration with the Piauí Institute of Technology (PIT) and Sebrae, which coordinated strategic bilateral meetings with investors and representatives of Europe’s innovation ecosystem.

According to Victor Hugo Almeida, President of Investe Piauí, the state arrived at Web Summit ready to showcase its creative and technological potential to the world:

“Piauí comes to Lisbon with Brazil’s largest delegation, over 100 entrepreneurs supported by Investe Piauí, PIT, and Sebrae, participating in a solid agenda of knowledge sharing and global market connections,” he highlighted.

He added that the event serves as a platform to consolidate Piauí as a leading innovation hub in Brazil:

“Piauí has a major booth at the Web Summit to present itself to the world. We want to show that we deliver cutting-edge innovation and are ready to attract major technology companies and generate opportunities that will transform our state’s future.”

Throughout the event, the Piauí delegation is participating in panels, business rounds, and technical missions at Portugal’s innovation centers, thereby strengthening the internationalization of the state’s startup and technology ecosystem.

The Most Valuable Trademarks in Brazil 2025 Award, organized by InfoMoney in partnership with TM20 Branding, Brazil Panels, and Elos Ayta, recognized companies that successfully transform reputation and consumer trust into measurable economic value.

At the top of the ranking are Nubank (brand value of BRL 214.76 billion), followed by Itaú (BRL 76.41 billion) and Vivo (BRL 50.09 billion). The study assessed 208 trademarks across 26 categories, combining financial indicators with trademark attributes such as trust, preference, and awareness.

In terms of trademark strength, Caixa was recognized as Brazil’s most admired trademark. In their respective industries, Assaí, Tigre, MRV Engenharia, Rede D’Or São Luiz, and Grupo Fleury stood out for consistent performance, innovation, and long-standing reputations.

Beyond financial outcomes, the ranking reflects a new era of trademark value, in which trust, empathy, and purpose become key drivers of competitiveness and investor confidence in Brazilian companies.

Between September and October 2025, the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic (SG/PR) monitored the first phase of the project to translate the 1988 Federal Constitution into three major Indigenous languages spoken in Brazil (Tikuna, Kaiowá, and Kaingang).

The initiative is part of the “Living Indigenous Language in Law” Program, a joint effort by the Office of the Attorney General (AGU), the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI), and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), implemented in collaboration with civil society organizations across different regions.

The project also includes the translation of ILO Convention No. 169 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into Indigenous languages.

Government representatives, Indigenous leaders, and researchers participated in the validation ceremonies held in the states of Rio Grande do Sul, Amazonas, and Mato Grosso do Sul.

According to Kenarik Boujikian, National Secretary for Social Dialogue and Public Policy Coordination:

“The 1988 Constitution represents an ethical commitment to the project of our nation. Translating it into Indigenous languages is an act of respect and inclusion, ensuring full social participation in Brazil’s democracy.”

The initiative aligns with the UN’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), reinforcing Brazil’s dedication to protecting linguistic and cultural diversity.

With over 390 Indigenous ethnic groups across the country, Brazil’s effort to translate its fundamental legal framework highlights a broader commitment to linguistic inclusion, citizenship, and cultural preservation.

The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) has granted a Geographical Indication (GI) for Cabaraquara oysters, produced in the coastal region of Guaratuba, Paraná. This makes them the second seafood product in Brazil to receive such recognition (the first being the Costa Negra shrimp, from Ceará).

Expanding the map of Brazilian GIs

Although Brazil has already registered 145 Geographical Indications, most are traditionally associated with products such as coffee and cheese, which dominate the country’s portfolio. The recognition of the Cabaraquara oysters highlights the potential of marine and aquaculture-based products to achieve a similar distinction, fostering regional development and sustainable production.

According to the BPTO, the oysters from this region are renowned for their light and sweet flavor, which is attributed to the local environmental characteristics. The GI label also strengthens low-impact, family-based aquaculture, as the community of producers has grown across generations since the 1990s.

Local value and economic potential

The new GI status is expected to enhance both visibility and economic growth for Guaratuba. “The indication can expand recognition of the entire municipality,” said Catiane Santos, business consultant at Sebrae/PR, one of the institutions supporting the process.

This recognition follows other emblematic Brazilian cases such as Queijo da Canastra (MG), Vale dos Vinhedos wines (RS), and Capim Dourado from Jalapão (TO). All examples of how Geographical Indications can promote authenticity, cultural heritage, and sustainability.

What a Geographical Indication means

A Geographical Indication identifies products or services originating from a specific region whose qualities, reputation, or characteristics are directly linked to that place. It ensures authenticity and protection against imitations, guaranteeing that consumers are purchasing a product of genuine origin and recognized quality.

The label granted to Cabaraquara oysters corresponds to the Indicação de Procedência (Indication of Origin) category, acknowledging regions renowned for their exceptional production.

In Brazil, the transition toward a low-carbon economy has triggered a “race for green patents.” Clean energy solutions, circular economy processes, recyclable materials, and new technological platforms are increasingly present in patent filings before the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO).

Companies such as Electrolux Group, Randoncorp, and Siemens Brazil are showing that investments in R&D and green patent protection are not merely compliance costs or ESG obligations — they are drivers of profitability, competitiveness, and long-term positioning.

Implications for intellectual property

For IP professionals, this trend represents a significant opportunity. The growing number of green patent filings in Brazil calls for enhanced international protection strategies, cross-border cooperation, and attention to patent quality and scope.

Between 2012 and 2024, more than 1,097 green patents were granted in Brazil, according to the BPTO.

Despite this positive outlook, challenges remain. Bureaucratic procedures, limited funding for R&D scale-up, and the lower participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still hinder broader progress in sustainable innovation.

The convergence of ESG principles, technological innovation, and intellectual property protection is reshaping Brazil’s innovation landscape. Understanding the intersection between sustainability and IP will be increasingly crucial for companies and professionals seeking to lead in this evolving environment.

The São Paulo State Court of Justice (TJSP) has ruled in favor of Puma in a case involving unfair competition and trademark infringement, strengthening legal protection for well-known trademarks in Brazil.

The dispute began when Puma filed a lawsuit against Kezo, a local apparel manufacturer, for using a feline logo similar to Puma’s globally recognized trademark. The German company argued that such use created a likelihood of confusion and unfair association with its well-established identity.

At first instance, Kezo was ordered to refrain from using the feline logo in isolation, being allowed to use only the mixed mark that includes the name “Kezo.” The court also awarded moral damages of BRL 5,000. Both parties appealed.

On appeal, Justice Sérgio Seiji Shimura, the reporting judge, found that Kezo had indeed used the figurative element separately, constituting unfair competition, particularly considering Puma’s high-repute status.

“The isolated use of distinctive elements from mixed marks, especially when they resemble well-known trademarks, constitutes unfair competition, with presumed moral and material damages,” noted the judge.

The appellate panel upheld the violation of trademark rights, increased the damages to BRL 20,000, and maintained the prohibition against Kezo’s use of the disputed logo.

This ruling reinforces the strong legal protection granted to well-known trademarks in Brazil under Article 125 of the Industrial Property Law (LPI), which prohibits third-party use of such marks in any commercial field, even outside direct competition.

Between October 21 and 24, representatives of the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) participated in an official mission to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain, to discuss new areas of technical and institutional cooperation in intellectual property.

The visit followed Brazil’s filing of the instrument of accession to the Budapest Treaty, held at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) headquarters in Geneva on October 20 (a milestone that underscores the country’s ongoing alignment with international IP standards).

Led by BPTO President Júlio César Moreira, Director of Administration Alexandre Lopes Lourenço, and International Relations Coordinator Leopoldo Coutinho, the delegation engaged in a series of meetings focused on best practices in IP governance and innovation promotion.

The mission included a visit to the Geographical Indication (GI) Turrón de Jijona, where discussions centered on regional product protection and GI management models.

At EUIPO headquarters, the teams held a meeting with Executive Director João Negrão and explored topics such as:

• Promotion of the IP system;
• Sustainability and green trademarks;
• Mediation and dispute resolution;
• Organizational and financial models based on IP;
• Artificial intelligence applications in examination processes;
• Capacity-building and quality standards.

The agenda also included discussions on the AL-Invest Verde DPI Program, an initiative developed in Latin America and supported by EUIPO and BPTO to foster innovation and competitiveness through IP use. Its upcoming phase, AL Invest Next, aims to strengthen cooperation between Europe and Latin America further.

This mission reinforces BPTO’s commitment to international integration, knowledge exchange, and the adoption of global best practices, essential for building a more efficient and innovation-driven IP environment in Brazil.

Established in 1977 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Budapest Treaty standardizes the recognition of biological material deposits for patent purposes. This measure addresses one of the main challenges faced by inventors and researchers in biotechnology: ensuring reproducibility and disclosure requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
Reducing Technical Barriers and Administrative Costs

By recognizing deposits made with International Depositary Authorities (IDAs), the treaty allows inventors to rely on a single biological deposit, which is valid in all member countries.

For Brazil, this represents a major simplification. Reducing bureaucracy, lowering operational costs, and enhancing access to international patent protection.

Expanding Opportunities for Research Institutions

The accession also opens the door for Brazilian institutions to be accredited as IDAs, such as Cenargen/Embrapa and Fiocruz. This creates new opportunities for research centers and universities to offer deposit services to national and foreign inventors, contributing to Brazil’s scientific internationalization and bioeconomy development.

Legal and Strategic Impact

From a legal standpoint, the Budapest Treaty strengthens the security and global enforceability of Brazilian patents.

It also enhances investor confidence and aligns Brazil with international best practices, consolidating the country’s position as an emerging hub for innovation in biotechnology and intellectual property.

Brazil’s accession to the Budapest Treaty represents a juridical, scientific, and economic milestone, simplifying patent processes, expanding global cooperation, and fostering a more competitive biotechnological ecosystem.

Follow the Tavares IP Blog to explore how Brazil’s evolving patent framework is shaping innovation in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and beyond.

Brazil and India have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to enhance technological and scientific collaboration in vaccine production. Signed by Health Minister Alexandre Padilha during an official mission to New Delhi, the initiative establishes a partnership between Fiocruz and Biological E Limited, focusing on research, technology transfer, and the joint development of vaccines.

The agreement reinforces both countries’ commitment to advancing biotechnology cooperation and strengthening Brazil’s technological sovereignty in the vaccine sector.

Joint development and technology transfer

The partnership lays the groundwork for collaborative scientific research and co-development of viral and bacterial vaccines through Fiocruz’s Bio-Manguinhos unit. Priority projects include the 24-valent pneumococcal vaccine, currently under evaluation, and the technology transfer of the 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine (VPC14) — enabling domestic production and supply to Brazil’s public health system (SUS).

This cooperation is expected to reduce external dependency and expand Brazil’s capacity to produce high-technology vaccines.
Scientific collaboration and intellectual property

The agreement also foresees technical and scientific cooperation, data sharing, and support for innovation in immunobiologicals. It seeks to foster a collaborative environment that encourages intellectual property generation, promoting joint R&D projects and patent development arising from shared research.

Biological E Limited will contribute its expertise in vaccine research and manufacturing, while Fiocruz will provide its production infrastructure, research network, and integration with Brazil’s regulatory agencies.

A strategic step for Brazilian biotechnology

This partnership represents a significant step toward Brazil’s technological autonomy, positioning Fiocruz as a key hub for biomedical innovation. The initiative also reinforces cooperation within the Global South, driving knowledge exchange and sustainable development.