Software registrations in Brazil are accelerating in 2026, reflecting the growing role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in business activities. By August, Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) had recorded 6,017 software registration filings, approaching the 7,232 registrations recorded during the whole of 2025.
During the first half of 2026 alone, filings increased by 75% compared with the same period of the previous year. BPTO projects that software registrations will continue to grow at an average annual rate of 15.6% between 2026 and 2030.
Artificial intelligence is already becoming a significant component of this growth.
AI-related software gains relevance
Data from BPTO show the increasing presence of artificial intelligence among software registration filings.
In 2025:
- 1,372 filings, representing 19% of the total, were related to artificial intelligence.
Based on data collected through May 2026:
- 639 registrations were related to AI;
- Out of 3,040 filings analyzed during the period.
The figures illustrate the growing role of artificial intelligence in software development and reflect the expanding strategic importance of digital technologies across different business activities.
Software becomes a strategic business asset
According to Érica Guimarães Correia, Head of BPTO’s Division of Computer Programs and Integrated Circuit Topographies, software is no longer limited to an administrative support function.
It now plays a direct role in areas such as:
- Process automation;
- Operational efficiency;
- Customer experience;
- Cost reduction;
- Data analysis;
- Decision-making;
- Business scalability.
In some business models, the software itself is the product or service offered by the company.
This shift increases the importance of identifying, managing, and protecting technology assets developed by businesses.
How software protection works in Brazil
In Brazil, computer programs are protected under copyright law rather than patent law.
The registration system administered by BPTO concerns the program’s source code. Registration is not required for copyright protection, but a registration certificate may serve as evidence of authorship in the event of a dispute.
It may also be relevant in business and legal contexts involving:
- Public procurement processes;
- Financing;
- Licensing;
- Technology transfer;
- Negotiations and agreements involving the exploitation of software.
Software registration can therefore form part of a broader strategy for managing intangible assets and documenting rights related to technologies developed by companies and professionals.
AI cannot be recognized as an author of software
The growing use of artificial intelligence also raises questions about authorship.
According to the BPTO specialist, under the rules currently applicable in Brazil, authorship remains linked to a natural person, since artificial intelligence is considered a tool and cannot claim authorship.
Brazilian copyright legislation establishes that the author is the natural person responsible for the creation.
The distinction between author and right holder is also particularly relevant in a corporate environment:
- The author is the natural person responsible for creating the software;
- The right holder may be either a natural person or a legal entity and holds the economic rights associated with the use and commercial exploitation of the program.
Where a developer is hired to conduct software research and development as part of their employment duties, the developer remains the author. At the same time, the company may hold the corresponding economic rights.
Code reproduction and the challenges of AI-generated content
Another issue concerns situations in which artificial intelligence tools generate code based on existing content.
According to the BPTO representative, a potential dispute may involve comparing source codes to determine whether protected content has been reproduced, particularly when the reproduced portion represents a significant or distinctive element of the software.
BPTO does not assess the merits of potential plagiarism or code reproduction.
In the event of a legal dispute, the matter may be examined by the Brazilian courts, potentially with technical analysis carried out by a court-appointed expert.
As AI becomes increasingly integrated into software development, questions surrounding authorship, ownership, and the use of protected content are becoming increasingly relevant to technology and intellectual property strategies.
Software protection in an increasingly technology-driven economy
The growth in software registration filings and the expanding presence of artificial intelligence-related technologies reflect a broader shift in the role of digital assets within companies.
As software becomes more directly connected to value creation, automation, and the delivery of products and services, issues such as authorship, ownership, and source code protection become increasingly relevant to the management of intangible assets.
These issues were discussed during a webinar held by Assespro-PR on August 11, focusing on intellectual property applied to software and the implications of artificial intelligence for technologies developed by companies.
