Brazillian Intellectual Property Law

Intellectual property law can be a confusing topic for businesses that are working internationally, such as between the United States and Brazil. Business law can often cross borders, as more mergers and acquisitions are accomplished between separate countries. Companies also spend time dealing with each other and developing transactions in order to ensure their businesses are prosperous.

Patent and copyright infringement, in particular, can pose difficult questions for foreign companies working in Brazil. The Economist reported on the intellectual property laws within Brazil and how to ensure that infringements are avoided.

In the early 1800s, the country had laws that allowed authors and inventors to have exclusive property rights to their creations for a total of 14 years. By the 1950s, however, the intellectual property law began to ban manufactured imports and the patent office was able to cap royalty payments.

“Instead of believing that it is essential to protect ourselves from foreign industry, we now realise that we must protect our own intellectual property to encourage innovation,” Jorge Ávila, the president of INPI, Brazil’s patent office, told the news source. “And we want foreigners to invest here. We don’t want them to think they won’t get a fair return.”

However, intellectual property is not as troublesome as some foreign businesses may think, as Brazil’s stance on copyright, trademark and patent laws are in line with many other major trading nations.

Before investing in new products or coordinating transactions between businesses, foreign companies will need to have a greater background in Brazilian law. Brazilian lawyers – with knowledge in intellectual property law, patents, contracts and mergers or acquisitions – can help companies find solutions for the complications of business law.