The Future of Intellectual Property in Brazil Under Discussion

Between September 15 and 17, 2021, the 13th Academic Meeting on Intellectual Property, Innovation and Development (ENAPID) was held. It is one of the main annual events organized by the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (INPI), with the support of the Brazilian Intellectual Property Association (ABPI) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (read the news here).

In its 13th edition, the event addressed several topics concerning the future of Intellectual Property in Brazil, many of them arising from the National Intellectual Property Strategy (ENPI), launched in 2020 (read the news here) as part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (INPI).

Among the various lectures presented, the nationwide dissemination of an Intellectual Property (IP) culture was discussed under the theme “IP in Schools.” The presentation addressed the planning being carried out by the INPI to implement mentoring initiatives in all regions of Brazil, culminating in a major event bringing together IP professionals, students, teachers, and administrators from the various levels of basic education.

To encourage the expected dissemination of IP knowledge within educational environments, the “IP in Schools” program will include awards for educational initiatives, divided into the following categories: Creativity – education for innovation and artistic production; Citizenship – education for a culture of respect for creation; Technology – education for science and innovation; Planet – education for the sustainable and innovative use of natural resources; and Business – education for entrepreneurship.

The “IP in Schools” program is expected to provide students with a number of benefits, including greater familiarity with IP-related topics, an understanding of the potential of IP to transform society, increased awareness of the need to respect IP rights, and the application of IP knowledge in everyday life.

Brazil’s IP community will certainly mobilize to contribute to the implementation of this excellent INPI initiative, which addresses an ongoing need in the country. Perhaps, in the near future, Brazil will move closer to the levels of basic IP awareness already fully and naturally integrated into education in countries such as Japan and the United States. This may result in stronger protection of the rights arising from Brazil’s already significant creative potential, as well as contribute to greater national technological development.