Last week, Brazil deposited the adhesion protocol to the Hague Agreement on Industrial Designs with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in Geneva (Switzerland), through the INPI.
Said deposit was signed by the President of the Republic after its approval by the National Congress. The next step will be the promulgation and entry into force of the International Treaty.
The purpose of the Hague Agreement, as soon as it enters into force, is to streamline and simplify procedures and reduce costs for registering Industrial Designs abroad, benefiting both Brazilians who seek protection in other countries, and foreigners who want to invest in Brazil.
According to the Agreement, based on an international application, Brazilians may request the protection of their Industrial Design in 95 countries - including Brazil, the United States, China and Japan, as well as the European Union.
Briefly, the main advantages of accession to the Hague Agreement are:
- Possibility of protection in the 95 signatory countries of the Agreement;
- Centralized management of the Industrial Design portfolio;
- Single language (option of French, Spanish or English);
- Costs in single currency (Swiss francs); and
- Instant and electronic communications.
For the processing of this Agreement, the close cooperation and coordination between the Presidency and directors of INPI, SEPEC of the Ministry of Economy and diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were particularly relevant.
Note: The above information is from the official website, if there is any change, the official website shall prevail.