As an initiative of the government to encourage and support innovation for Brazilian micro and small enterprises (microempresas (ME) andempresas de pequenoporte (EPP) in Portuguese), the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) recently launched the "Patents MPE" pilot project.
The pilot project, which started on February 23, 2016, will allow patent applicants which are micro and small enterprises – as defined in article 3 of Complementary Law No. 123 of December 14, 2006 – to request the priority examination of their patent applications.
The project "Patents MPE" will last one year or will accept 300 patent applications, whichever comes first.
For more information about other possibilities for fast-track examination of patent applications offered by INPI, click here.
Originally published 03 March 2016
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