BTO and JPO create a joint group work to expedite patent examination
The Brazilian and Japanese Ministries of Economy, Commerce and Industry have created a joint work group to study a cooperative program regarding patent examinations, such as the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH).
The agreement was executed in the beginning of October/2016 by the Brazilian secretary of the Ministry of Industry, External Trade and Services, Mr. Fernando Furlan, and Mr. Hirofumi Katase, Japanese Vice-Minister of Economy, Commerce of Industry.
Expedite the examination of patents
The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) is an initiative to expedite the examination of patents by exchanging information between the Patent Offices.
It allows an increase in efficiency by reducing rework and diminishing the time of analysis.
Such a work group will consist of representatives from the Brazilian and the Japanese Patent Offices and it aims to stablish with Japan an agreement similar to the one signed with the US.
In the Ceremony, Mr. Fernando Furlan stated:
“The Brazilian government is seeking proposals and solutions that can increase the efficiency and efficacy of the Brazilian Patent Office. The main aim is that our Patent Office can be, in a near future, equal to outstanding Offices, such as the JPO, offering services that can encourage the demand for new technologies in all areas of knowledge. We are creating a joint work group with members of each Office to define the scope of a cooperative program for sharing patent examination. Our expectation is that this program will reduce the rework need and the excess of work, thus making possible to increase the quality and speed examinations.”
Mr. Takao Omae (President of the Subcommittee of Keidanren), Mr. Aiichiro Matsunaga (President of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Mr. André Correa do Lago (Brazilian Ambassador in Japan) and Mr. Paulo Tigre (Vice-President of the Brazilian Confederation of Industries) have also attended the Ceremony.
