An interview with Jorge Ávila

01-02-2011

It may seem like a whole new world for IP, but Brazil is slowly but surely ensuring international compliance and respect. The National Institute of Industrial Property has its fair share of problems, yet it has ambitions too.

In 1989, Brazil directly elected its first president. Although a degree of economic difficulty followed—resulting in the suspension of foreign debt payments—Brazil has slowly prospered. It has gone on to develop strong international ties, exploit an abundance of natural resources and position itself as a promoter of intellectual property.

In 1995, Brazil joined the World Trade Organization and, in doing so, needed to become TRIPS compliant. Two years later, Brazil approved a new IP law that met the minimum requirements of the TRIPS agreement.

It is the job of Brazil’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) to grant patents, trademarks and industrial designs as a means of protecting IP rights at a national level, for the benefit of both the office’s national and international customers.


INPI, interview

WIPR