News

São Paulo has climbed to the 49th position in the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) ranking of global science and technology clusters — a remarkable jump of 24 spots. The rise reflects the inclusion of venture capital (VC) as a new indicator in the Global Innovation Index, highlighting the role of high-growth investments in fostering innovation.

Alongside Mexico City, São Paulo is the only hub in Latin America to appear in the world’s top 100. Over the course of four years, the city recorded 684 international patent applications, 24,349 scientific publications, and 1,587 venture capital deals.

The result underscores São Paulo’s growing relevance in the global innovation ecosystem and the importance of VC investments in supporting startups and frontier technologies.

The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) has been awarded the Follett Humanized Management Prize during a ceremony held on September 26 in Covilhã, Portugal. This international recognition honors organizations that promote human development in their management practices.

BPTO’s winning initiatives included the Integration Meetings, the participatory process for drafting internal policies, the Quality of Life Program (Vita), and the My Legacy Project, which celebrates the career achievements of its staff.

As a result, BPTO will be entitled to use the Humanized Management Seal of Excellence and publish its experience in Conecte-se Magazine, by PUC Minas Gerais.

On September 22, in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) signed an agreement extending the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program between the two countries until 2029.

The memorandum was signed during the 17th Meeting of BRICS Intellectual Property Offices, attended by BPTO President Júlio César Moreira and CNIPA Vice Commissioner Lu Pengqi.

Through the PPH, applicants can utilize examination results from one office to expedite the review process in the other, thereby reducing both time and costs. Brazil currently has 35 PPH partnerships, including with Germany, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) and Sebrae held an online event to discuss proposed changes to the rules for registering Geographical Indications (GIs), currently governed by BPTO Ordinance No. 4, dated 2022. A public consultation on the matter is now open and will run until October 17.

Key proposals include merging the preliminary and substantive phases of the application process, a measure that is expected to simplify and accelerate registrations. New requirements for the Bylaws of applicant associations are also under discussion, ensuring stronger accountability from producers throughout all stages of the process, including after registration is granted.

Brazil currently has 142 Geographical Indications across 25 states, covering 1,836 municipalities. In 2025 alone, 16 new GIs have already been recognized in nine states, underscoring the growing importance of this tool in enhancing local production and improving competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.

The public consultation is available on the BPTO website.

Contrary to common belief, many liberal authors argue that patents are not a natural form of private property, but rather state-granted monopolies that restrict competition and create artificial scarcity.

In developing countries, the international patent system — especially under agreements like TRIPS — often limits technological progress and access to essential goods, particularly medicines. By ensuring legal monopolies, these rules can raise prices and deepen economic inequalities.

Brazil’s Generic Medicines Law (Law No. 9,787/1999) represents a landmark example of patent flexibilization. By allowing the production of generics after patent expiration, and in some cases before, it reduced prices and expanded access to affordable medications. Today, generics account for more than 70% of prescriptions in key therapeutic areas, saving Brazilian consumers an estimated US$60 billion since implementation.

This case demonstrates that rethinking patents is not only a matter of social justice but also a matter of genuine economic freedom, fostering competition, reducing costs, and boosting local production.

The Brazil Innovation and Development Index (IBID) 2025 was launched last Friday (29) during the Startup Summit in Florianópolis. Created by the BPTO in 2024, the index has established itself as the primary reference for innovation in Brazil, encompassing all five regions and the 27 states, based on the methodology of the WIPO Global Innovation Index.

According to BPTO President Júlio César Moreira, the IBID helps identify regional potential and guide public policies. Chief Economist Rodrigo Ventura highlighted the new geography of Brazilian innovation, marked by decentralization and the emergence of innovation hubs across the country.

The ranking shows São Paulo, Santa Catarina, and Paraná as national leaders, while the state of Amazonas climbed three positions. Northeast states also performed above expectations considering their income level, reinforcing the regional dynamism of Brazil’s innovation landscape.

According to the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO), trademarks, patents, and other intangible assets already represent 47% of total investments in Brazil.

Investments in intangible assets (such as trademarks, patents, research, and development) now account for almost half (47%) of all investments in Brazil, according to a report released by the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO).

The data, presented by the institution’s Chief Economist, Rodrigo Vieira Ventura, highlight a turning point for Brazilian companies: firms are now investing nearly as much in innovation as they are in physical assets, such as machinery and factories.

This shift positions innovation as a key driver of the Brazilian economy, with an impact greater than that of agribusiness (8% of GDP) and mineral extraction (5.5%). Currently, investments in intangible assets account for 8.5% of Brazil’s GDP, growing at a rate of 0.8 percentage points per year, while investments in physical assets are declining at a rate of two percentage points per year.

Regional highlights

Although innovation remains concentrated in the South and Southeast regions, other states are also emerging. Amazonas, for example, rose three positions between 2024 and 2025 in the Brazil Innovation and Development Index (IBID), moving from 20th to 17th place.

São Paulo remained the leader, with a score of 0.872 on a scale from 0 to 1, which is 3.1 times the national average (0.296). Other states above the national average were Santa Catarina, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, and Minas Gerais.

Regional leaders in innovation in 2025 were:

• Southeast: São Paulo
• South: Santa Catarina
• North: Amazonas
• Northeast: Rio Grande do Norte
• Center-West: Brasilia

Strategic importance

The growing share of intangibles highlights the importance of intellectual property as a vital asset for companies seeking to compete globally.

At Tavares IP, we assist international firms in securing and protecting their intangible assets in Brazil. Please get in touch with our team to learn more about our solutions in trademarks, patents, and technical translations.

Mercado Livre has announced a strategic partnership with LaLiga, one of the world’s leading football leagues, to combat digital piracy in Latin America.

The initiative integrates the Mercado Livre Anti-Counterfeiting Alliance (Maca), which promotes collaboration with Intellectual Property rights holders. The agreement aims to detect, report, and remove illegal content, services, and devices that infringe LaLiga’s audiovisual rights, including pirate IPTV services and adapted devices that grant unauthorized access.

Key goals of the agreement include:

• Strengthening audiovisual rights protection in the region;
• Raising awareness of the impacts of digital piracy;
• Establishing best practices in IP protection within the online environment.

According to Paula Fernández Pfizenmaier, Intellectual Property Director at Mercado Livre, the collaboration reinforces the company’s commitment to a safe digital ecosystem for trademarks and users.

For LaLiga, the alliance marks a crucial step toward ensuring a fairer digital environment for the industry, content creators, and fans.

The Economic Development Committee of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies has approved Bill No. 3553/21, establishing more explicit rules for the role of the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) in court actions seeking the nullity of patents and trademarks.

The bill aims to enhance legal certainty and expedite these proceedings. The approved text provides that the BPTO:

• Will be summoned to comment after the deadline for the patent or trademark owner’s defense.
• May choose not to contest or may change its position in the case of public interest is involved;
• Will have the autonomy to remain in the proceedings even if the plaintiff withdraws or settles with the defendant.

The substitute text, presented by Congressman Vitor Lippi (PSDB-SP), seeks to strengthen the BPTO’s autonomy and reduce costs and delays.

The bill will now be analyzed by the Committees on Industry, Trade, and Services, as well as the Committee on Constitution and Justice.