The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (INPI) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday, September 22, in Rio de Janeiro, extending the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program between the two countries until 2029.
The renewal of this agreement reflects the commitment of both offices to strengthen bilateral cooperation in patents and streamline examination processes. The PPH enables applicants whose patent claims have been deemed patentable by one office to request accelerated examination for corresponding claims in the other.
During the signing ceremony, INPI President Júlio César Moreira and CNIPA Deputy Commissioner Lu Pengqi represented their respective offices, accompanied by their delegations. The event took place alongside the 17th Meeting of the Presidents of the BRICS Industrial Property Offices, held on September 22 and 23, at the same venue in Rio de Janeiro.
The extension of the PPH is expected to promote greater efficiency, reduce duplication of work, and strengthen innovation ties between Brazil and China—two key markets within the BRICS framework.
