Newsletter - Latin America IP SME Helpdesk

On 20th March, 2024, the Ministry of People's Power for Commerce of Venezuela launched an Integrated Citizen Service System (SIAC) through the website of the Autonomous Service of Intellectual Property (SAPI). This system facilitates the creation, submission and tracking of cases presented by citizens and new businesses, as well as the management of complaints, petitions and grievances.

Brazil's National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) has extended the deadline for submitting certified priority documents under the Hague Agreement to April 1, 2024. Additionally, INPI has chosen to suspend all deadlines for filing applications or completing formalities related to industrial design applications under the Hague Agreement for the month of March.

On March 7, Brazil's National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) declared that it would not be accepting new applications for the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program in 2024. This decision stems from the fact that INPI has reached the maximum limit of 100 applications per annual cycle for participation in Phase IV of the PPH pilot project. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will need to consider other strategies to speed up the examination process and protect their innovations in the country.

The Court of Justice of São Paulo issued a significant ruling affecting technology giant Meta Platforms. The decision orders the company to stop using its trademark in Brazil within 30 days or face a daily fine of €18,590. The legal dispute arose from a lawsuit filed by Meta Serviços em Informática, a Brazilian company founded more than 30 years ago that owns a trade mark registered with Brazil's National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI).

Paraguay's National Plant and Seed Quality and Health Service (SENAVE) announced significant updates to the registration process for the National Register of Protected Cultivars (RNCP) and the National Register of Commercial Cultivars (RNCC).

Joining forces the Eureka Network, the Latin America IP SME Helpdesk organises a webinar focusing on intellectual property (IP) rights for research and development (R&D) projects in Brazil and Chile. The webinar will provide insights into the basic IP rights including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. IT will also highlight the significance of registering IP rights in R&D projects, and how it contributes to innovation and business success.