The Brazilian Patent Office (BRPTO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding setting the basis of a future PPH program between both institutes. Similar to the other PPH programs currently available in Brazil (with the USPTO and the JPO), applicants will be able to request fast-track examination for a Brazilian patent application whose EP counterpart has been already allowed.
A Rule setting forth the acceptability requirements of this PPH program is yet to be published, but the BRPTO has already anticipated that this will be a pilot program with a limit of 300 applications per year. Moreover, only those patent applications related to medical devices and general chemistry would be allowed to participate.
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