On November 13th, the Brazilian Patent Office (BRPTO) and the Chinese Patent Office (SIPO) signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the basis for a future PPH program between both institutes. Like the other Brazilian PPH programs, including those with the USPTO, the JPO and the EPO, applicants will be able to request fast-track examination for a Brazilian patent application whose Chinese counterpart has been already approved.
A Rule setting forth the eligibility requirements for this PPH program is expected to be published by February 2018, but the BRPTO anticipates that this will be a pilot program with a limit of 200 applications. Moreover, only those patent applications related to IT, packaging, measurement and chemical techniques would be allowed to participate.
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