Brazil - Country Commercial Guide
Protecting Intellectual Property

Provides advice on IPR protection, including information on the registration of patents and trademarks.

Last published date: 2023-04-03

Brazil has been on the U.S. Trade Representative’s Special 301 Watch List since 2007. This designation reflects significant concerns with respect to high levels of counterfeiting and piracy in Brazil, including online piracy, as well as concerns regarding the decreasing but still long delays in the examination of patents.  THe reported average pendency for patents is approximately 7.2 years. 

View the most recent version of USTR’s annual Special 301 Report, including specific comments on Brazil.

For information on obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights and market-specific IP toolkits, visit the STOPfakes website.  The toolkits contain detailed information on protecting and enforcing IP in specific markets and contain contact information for local IPR offices abroad and U.S. Government officials available to assist SMEs. For Brazil-specific resources, please check https://www.stopfakes.gov/article?id=Brazil-IPR-Resources

The U.S. Department of Commerce has a regional IP Attaché based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil who can provide advice and support to U.S. companies facing IPR issues in the region:

David B. Kellis

Regional IP Attaché

U.S. Consulate General, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Telephone: +55 (21) 3823-2499

E-mail: david.kellis@trade.gov