UK and Brazil to continue IP cooperation
British Secretary of State for International Trade and his Brazilian counterpart witness the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Intellectual Property.
The UK and Brazil have reaffirmed their commitment to increased intellectual property (IP) cooperation. On December 7 at the Brazil Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting British Secretary of State for International Trade, Dr Liam Fox, and the Brazilian Minister for Industry, Foreign Trade and Services, Marcos Pereira, witnessed the renewal of the MoU between the countries’ respective IP offices - the Brazilian National Institute for Intellectual Property (INPI) and the UK Intellectual Property Office.
The MoU will be underpinned by a work plan setting out a firm commitment to cooperate across a wide range of IP issues such as sharing best practice in IP office management and patent examination methods. These activities will promote innovation, creativity and economic growth in both countries.
The agreement was signed by HM Ambassador to Brazil, Alex Ellis, on behalf of Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property and President Luis Otavio Pimentel of INPI.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property, said:
We have built an excellent relationship with the intellectual property office of Brazil. The mutually beneficial Memorandum of Understanding and work plan will undoubtedly strengthen this bond. IP cooperation and the sharing of best practice will increase. I am certain that innovative businesses from both countries will quickly see the benefits.
Notes to editors
1.The UK Intellectual Property Office is responsible for Intellectual Property (IP) rights in the United Kingdom, including patents, designs, trade marks and copyright.