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The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) obtained a favorable decision from the Federal Court in a lawsuit against two Brazilian private companies: CONPPI – Gestão em Propriedade Industrial Ltda. and Pública Gestão em Negócios Empresariais Ltda. After identifying irregular practices involving the unauthorized use of the BPTO’s name, acronym, and institutional identity.

According to the BPTO, these companies sent electronic messages and bank slips designed to resemble official communications, and improperly accessed administrative proceedings by registering themselves as “interested third parties” to collect user data. The reports were submitted through the BPTO Ombudsman.

Recognizing the risk of harm to the Institute’s reputation and to users of the IP system, the Court granted urgent relief prohibiting the companies from:

• using any identifier associated with the BPTO,
• offering services that fall under the Institute’s exclusive authority,
• and accessing administrative files to gather data.

Failure to comply may result in a daily fine of BRL 10,000 per violation. The case is pending before the 13th Federal Civil Court of São Paulo (Case No. 5033783-32.2025.4.03.6100).

On Sunday (30), an Argentine court ordered the shutdown of 22 illegal streaming applications, many of which were widely used in Brazil, including BTV, Red Play, and Blue TV. This action marks the second phase of a regional crackdown on platforms distributing copyrighted content without authorization. Earlier in November, 14 other services had already been taken offline.

According to Alianza, the association that combats audiovisual piracy in Latin America, more than 2 million users paid monthly fees to access these platforms, which operated mainly through TV boxes and IPTV devices. Although such devices are allowed in Brazil, they must be certified by Anatel, the national telecommunications regulator.

Following the shutdown, many users publicly reported service interruptions on consumer complaint platforms. Brazilian consumer protection authorities clarified that individuals who knowingly subscribe to illegal services forfeit their consumer rights, as the companies behind such platforms are often not legally registered entities.

This decision is unrelated to Brazil’s Operation 404, a nationwide initiative that recently blocked 535 websites and one streaming app offering pirated content. The actions in Argentina stem from an investigation launched in 2024, following Alianza’s submission of evidence to the Cybercrime Unit of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Buenos Aires.

On November 28, 2025, the BPTO released an update to its Trademark Manual, introducing important guidelines on acquired distinctiveness and on the recently established modality of opposition with restricted allegations, based on Article 124, XIX, of the Brazilian Industrial Property Law.

The modifications reflect Ordinance BPTO/PR No. 15/2025, which defined the concept of acquired distinctiveness and outlined the procedures, deadlines, and required documents for submitting a request for analysis. These guidelines were previously discussed with the public during the 2024–2025 Public Consultation, with official responses now available.

The update also includes instructions on the service “Opposition with restriction of allegations by class” (code 3022), created by Ordinance BPTO/PR No. 36/2025. This new service aims to streamline the opposition stage, ensuring greater procedural efficiency and cost reduction for users.

These improvements are part of BPTO’s 2025 Action Plan, aligned with Strategic Projects P1.15 – Opposition 2.0 and P1.08 – Acquired Distinctiveness and Non-Traditional Marks.

The complete list of updates is available in the “Updates” section of the Trademark Manual.

Brazil’s Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) has granted Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) an exceptional authorization to conduct scientific research on cannabis cultivation.

The authorization is strictly limited to research purposes and does not permit any form of commercialization.

According to Embrapa, the measure will help establish a national scientific foundation on cannabis, decrease dependence on imported inputs, and support future regulatory decisions. The approval comes shortly after more than BRL 13 million were allocated to CBD-related research.

Before the studies begin, Embrapa must undergo an on-site inspection and comply with strict security and control requirements. Anvisa will monitor the entire process. No products resulting from the research may be sold, and plant material may only be shared with previously authorized research institutions.

Embrapa’s research will focus on three areas: conservation and characterization of germplasm, scientific and technological bases for medicinal cannabis, and pre-breeding of hemp for fiber and seed production.

The institution states that the authorization represents a significant step as global interest in cannabis grows, highlighting its economic, social, and medicinal potential.

NR Sports, the company owned by Neymar da Silva Santos Sr., father of football player Neymar Jr., has reportedly purchased the Pelé trademark. The information was reported by UOL journalists Pedro Lopes Guimar and Danilo Lavieri.

According to UOL, the deal was closed for USD 18 million, the equivalent of approximately BRL 95 million at the current exchange rate. However, neither party has officially confirmed the value.

The report states that the acquisition includes rights to use the Pelé trademark in various initiatives, though NR Sports has not yet detailed which projects may be launched following the purchase.

So far, neither Pelé’s representatives nor the family of the late football star have made any public comments regarding the transaction.

Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) released updated statistics for 2024, reporting 166,000 new trademark filings and approximately 13,000 granted patents, alongside key regulatory developments involving artificial intelligence (AI). The BPTO has opened a public consultation on new Patent Examination Guidelines focused on AI-related technologies.

The draft establishes clear parameters for what may be patented in the context of AI. According to the document, autonomous AI-generated inventions without human intervention are not patentable under Article 6 of Brazil’s Industrial Property Law (Law No. 9.279/1996), which requires inventorship to be attributed to a natural person. However, the guidelines confirm that AI-assisted inventions remain patent-eligible, provided that a natural person contributes intellectually to the inventive process.

The draft further reiterates that source code and algorithms are not patentable, although a technical solution implemented by software that produces a concrete technical effect may qualify as an invention.

CADE study on standard essential patents

In August 2025, Brazil’s antitrust authority (CADE) published “Essential Patents,” a study examining the regulatory and judicial treatment of standard-essential patents across jurisdictions. The work was submitted to the INPI’s Technical Group on Industrial Property Intelligence.

CADE President Gustavo Augusto emphasized that a deeper understanding of these issues is key to strengthening enforcement in high-technology markets.

2024 indicators

BPTO reported growth in several categories:

• Trademark filings: +10.3%
• Industrial designs: +3%
• Software registrations: +25%
• Integrated circuit topographies: +500%

Patent applications totaled nearly 28,000, a slight decrease of less than 1% compared with 2023. There was also a drop in technology transfer contracts (-22%) and geographical indications (-4%).

Patent and trademark grants registered a reduction of approximately 30%.

Applicants from 82 countries sought patent protection in Brazil, led by the United States (28%), Brazil (23%), China (8%), Germany (6%), and Switzerland (4%).

Priority examination for trademarks

In July 2025, BPTO launched a pilot project to establish priority examination for trademark applications. The program is divided into:

• Legal criteria: seniors, people with disabilities, and startups under the Inova Simples framework
• Strategic criteria: applicants involved in litigation, those requiring trademark protection to release public funds, and trademarks linked to patents under fast-track examination

Experts note that the program provides businesses with earlier legal certainty and reduces risks associated with market entry and expansion.

Fee adjustments

BPTO also implemented an average 24.1% fee adjustment, the first since 2012, along with updated rules for discounts and exemptions. Individuals with disabilities and economically vulnerable applicants remain exempt from payment.

On November 3, 2025, the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) certified Brazil’s 1,000th international trademark application filed under the Madrid Protocol. The corresponding decision was published in Industrial Property Gazette (RPI) No. 2,863 of November 18.

The application, already forwarded to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), is owned by Natura Cosméticos S.A., the leading Brazilian filer in the Madrid System.

This fact reflects Brazil’s growing engagement with the international trademark registration system and highlights Brazilian companies’ increasing interest in expanding into global markets. It also reinforces BPTO’s commitment to modernizing its services and supporting the internationalization of Brazilian trademarks.

Implemented in Brazil in 2019, the Madrid Protocol is an international treaty administered by WIPO that streamlines and reduces the cost of registering trademarks in multiple jurisdictions through a centralized system.

The complete ranking covers 606 applicants, illustrating the broad diversity of Brazilian companies already using the system to protect their trademarks abroad.

For more information, please consult BPTO’s official page on the Madrid System.

The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) and the University of São Paulo (USP) have entered into an academic cooperation agreement aimed at promoting joint research, scientific activities, and cultural initiatives. The partnership, signed on November 5 by the President of the STF and the Minister of Justice (CNJ), Edson Fachin, and the Rector of USP, Professor Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Júnior, underscores the commitment of both institutions to fostering knowledge creation and dissemination in areas of mutual interest.

According to Minister Fachin, the agreement symbolizes the recognition of the public university as a vital space for the production of knowledge and the training of researchers dedicated to democracy, transparency, and Brazilian legal science. He emphasized that the collaboration between the judiciary and academia will enable the transformation of data and judicial experiences into applied research, contributing to more evidence-based judicial decisions and effective public policies.

Rector Carlotti Júnior highlighted that public universities fulfill their mission when they act as engines of social and scientific development. He noted that USP already maintains several partnerships to enhance public policy-making, and this new agreement with the STF and CNJ reinforces that commitment.

Main commitments

The five-year agreement encompasses the joint development of research projects, the organization of scientific and cultural events, the exchange of academic information and publications, as well as mobility programs for faculty, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers. The cooperation aims to bridge the gap between the judiciary and educational sectors, improving legal practices and strengthening the dialogue between legal theory and practice.

The agreement also sets guidelines regarding intellectual property, confidentiality, and data protection, ensuring compliance with Brazil’s Access to Information Law (LAI) and General Data Protection Law (LGPD). Publications resulting from the research will be jointly released.

Supreme Court Justices Alexandre de Moraes, Dias Toffoli, and Cristiano Zanin attended the signing ceremony.

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.