Within the industrial property discussion environment, more specifically with regard to innovation and technology protection through patents, companies that manufacture generics and similar drugs for many years were considered rivals to pharmaceutical laboratories holding patents. They were often nicknamed the “copy industry”, despite the fact that generic manufacturing is a legal and regulated activity.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are increasingly important for businesses across all sectors, including law firms.
For some years now, the litigation scenario involving SEPs in Brazil has been gaining relevance and the number of lawsuits filed by entities holding patents, sometimes NPEs (non-practicing entities), and some other companies that both hold essential patents and implement them, has been growing exponentially.
Companies depend on the sale of their products and services. However, it is not enough to simply innovate, invest millions in Marketing, and introduce their product to the market. It is essential to ensure in advance that intellectual property rights are adequately protected and that there is no violation of third-party rights.
Video games have been a huge obsession for many children, young people, and adults over the past decades – being part of their daily lives. The history of video games goes back to somewhen around 1947 when one of the first interactive games, i.e., the “Cathode-ray tube amusement device” was invented. Nevertheless, it has never seen the light of the day because the inventors did not manufacture or offer it for sale. The invention has enabled the use of a cathode-ray tube in a game, disclosing how to hit targets on the screen by manipulating buttons.
In the first quarter of 2024, trade between Brazil and the United States reached the impressive mark of US$ 18.8 billion, according to data recently released by Amcham Brasil, one of the largest multi-sector entities in the country and one of the most important American Chambers of Commerce outside the United States. This record in Brazilian exports not only highlights the strength of trade relations between the two countries, but also highlights the strategic importance for Brazilian companies operating in the American market and vice versa.
Next May 4th, the world-famous pop queen Madonna will perform on Copacabana beach – Rio de Janeiro, for a historic concert that, according to estimates, should attract 1.5 million spectators to the venue.
On April 26, we celebrate World Intellectual Property Day, a date that invites people around the world to reflect on the contributions of intellectual property (IP) to technological innovation and the role of IP rights - such as patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and copyrights - in encouraging innovation and creativity. World Intellectual Property Day highlights the importance of a balanced IP system that recognizes and rewards inventors and creators for their work while providing society with the benefits of their creations. IP rights enable researchers, inventors, companies, designers, and artists to legally protect the products of their innovation and creativity and to obtain financial returns from them.
The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (“BPTO”) published last March 20, its Regulatory Agenda for the 2024-2025 biennium, considering its priority matters that may have repercussions on rights and obligations related to Industrial Property, which have direct consequences on the Brazilian domestic market, economy and innovation.
Recognizing that intellectual property (IP) assets are crucial tools for driving innovation and promoting growth of the global economy and involve legal complexities, numerous countries have either implemented or are contemplating the establishment of specialized courts. For example, most of the European Union (EU) member states have introduced either a specialized IP court or specialized IP divisions within the general courts, including many in Central and Eastern European countries like Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, and Poland. Some non-EU Eastern European countries, including Azerbaijan and Belarus, have also introduced specialized IP courts or divisions. 1 Furthermore, since April 1, 2023, the Unified Patent Court has been in existence. This specialized court is designed to harmonize patent law across the EU, representing the first supranational jurisdiction in Europe for civil law matters. 2 Likewise, Canada, Japan, Thailand, and many other countries have adopted a similar approach to specialization.