INPI Brazil sets new rules for patent reexamination after appeal and updates Industrial Design and GIs Manuals

New rules for patent reexamination after appeal

On 27 May 2025, Brazil’s INPI issued Ordinance no. 4/2025, which establishes rules for the re-examination of patent applications that were previously rejected but later reinstated following an appeal. 

The original examiner must carry out this procedure, and the appeal decision is final and cannot be contested. Furthermore, the examiner may only raise new issues concerning previously unexamined aspects, and the applicant must be allowed to respond. Voluntary divisional filings and third-party observations are not permitted at this stage, except where a lack of unity was previously identified. 

Manuals updates

On 8 August 2025, Brazil’s INPI announced updates to its Industrial Design and Geographical Indications Manuals, in line with Ordinance INPI/PR No. 10 of 9 May 2025. 

Key changes include a new discount policy and replacing paper-based reprographic copies with digital versions, except for priority claim procedures in industrial designs, which may still require official paper copies.