Relatório de Pesquisa - A Inconstitucionalidade do Artigo 40, Parágrafo Único, da Lei de Propriedade Industrial sob uma Perspectiva Comparada (Research Report - The Unconstitutionality of Article 40, Sole Paragraph, of the Brazilian Industrial Property Law from a Comparative Perspective)

64 Pages Posted: 12 Feb 2021

See all articles by Cynthia M. Santos Bezerra

Cynthia M. Santos Bezerra

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Marina Kanarek

University of Sao Paulo (USP), Faculty of Law (FD)

Thaís Calixto de Abreu

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Michelle Baruhm Diegues

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Bernardo Castro

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Pietra Christinne Caramalac Braga

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Maria Clara Câmara

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Gustavo Schneider

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Joyce Ricarte

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Laura Feitoza

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Paloma Casanovas Reis

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Tárik Jarouche

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Paulo Fucci

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Gustavo Kastrup

University of São Paulo (USP); University of Sao Paulo (USP), Faculty of Law (FD), Commercial Law, Students; University of São Paulo (USP) - Commercial Law; University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Victor Barone

University of Sao Paulo (USP), Faculty of Law (FD); University of Sao Paulo (USP), Faculty of Law (FD)

Vitor Ido

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito; South Centre

Calixto Salomao Filho

University of Sao Paulo Law School

Carlos Portugal Gouvêa

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito

Date Written: December 8, 2020

Abstract

The research discusses the constitutional aspects of Article 40, sole paragraph, of the Brazilian Industrial Property Law ("LPI", from its acronym in Portuguese). This institute establishes a minimum protection period for invention patents, and the Brazilian Supreme Court is now examining its constitutionality in Direct Action for the Declaration of Unconstitutionality no. 5529.

The research aims to understand where this Brazilian provision is within the international landscape. For this purpose, the study compares Brazilian law and data on granting pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical invention patents for the period between 2010 and 2019 to intellectual property laws and patent granting in twenty-nine jurisdictions.

In a nutshell, the research shows no match for Article 40, sole paragraph, of LPI in any other jurisdiction. Although a minority of the nations studied have mechanisms for additional patent protection, these are restricted to specific cases (e.g., for pharmaceutical products) and are guided by a diverse legal-economic rationale of reduced application, which is subject to certain exceptions and limitations. Therefore, one cannot correctly compare these provisions to the Brazilian one.

These conclusions are corroborated by the empirical research results, which show that the minimum term institute is responsible for distortions that extend the duration of patents registered in Brazil beyond the deadlines established by the TRIPS Agreement or by the practices adopted by the international community.

Finally, the research provides the Brazilian Supreme Court factual and robust material to decide for the unconstitutionality of Article 40, sole paragraph, of LPI. This decision could be an adequate measure to stimulate Brazilian scientific-technological production, amplify access to healthcare by Brazilians, and, consequently, promote the country's socio-economic development.

Keywords: patent; drug, pharmaceutical, intellectual property, comparative law

JEL Classification: K11, K20, K21, K32, O34, O38

Suggested Citation

Bezerra, Cynthia M. Santos and Kanarek, Marina and Calixto de Abreu, Thaís and Baruhm Diegues, Michelle and Castro, Bernardo and Caramalac Braga, Pietra Christinne and Câmara, Maria Clara and Schneider, Gustavo and Ricarte, Joyce and Feitoza, Laura and Casanovas Reis, Paloma and Jarouche, Tárik and Fucci, Paulo and Kastrup, Gustavo and Barone, Victor and Barone, Victor and Ido, Vitor and Salomao Filho, Calixto and Portugal Gouvêa, Carlos, Relatório de Pesquisa - A Inconstitucionalidade do Artigo 40, Parágrafo Único, da Lei de Propriedade Industrial sob uma Perspectiva Comparada (Research Report - The Unconstitutionality of Article 40, Sole Paragraph, of the Brazilian Industrial Property Law from a Comparative Perspective) (December 8, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3745372 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3745372

Cynthia M. Santos Bezerra (Contact Author)

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Marina Kanarek

University of Sao Paulo (USP), Faculty of Law (FD) ( email )

Thaís Calixto de Abreu

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Michelle Baruhm Diegues

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Bernardo Castro

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Pietra Christinne Caramalac Braga

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Maria Clara Câmara

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Gustavo Schneider

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Joyce Ricarte

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Laura Feitoza

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Paloma Casanovas Reis

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Tárik Jarouche

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Paulo Fucci

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Gustavo Kastrup

University of São Paulo (USP) ( email )

Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto 380
Sao Paulo, 05508-010
Brazil

University of Sao Paulo (USP), Faculty of Law (FD), Commercial Law, Students ( email )

São Paulo
Brazil

University of São Paulo (USP) - Commercial Law ( email )

São Paulo
Brazil

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

Victor Barone

University of Sao Paulo (USP), Faculty of Law (FD) ( email )

São Paulo
Brazil

University of Sao Paulo (USP), Faculty of Law (FD) ( email )

São Paulo
Brazil

Vitor Ido

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

South Centre ( email )

17-19 Chemin du Champ d'Anier
Geneva, Geneva 1211
Switzerland

Calixto Salomao Filho

University of Sao Paulo Law School ( email )

Largo Sao Francisco
sao paulo
Brazil

Carlos Portugal Gouvêa

University of Sao Paulo - Faculdade de Direito ( email )

Largo São Francisco, 95 Prédio Anexo
São Paulo, São Paulo 01005-010
Brazil

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