BPTO publishes study on the filing trends of IP assets in Brazil by Latin American applicants between 2002 and 2021

BPTO publishes study on the filing trends of IP assets in Brazil by Latin American applicants between 2002 and 2021

On March 18, 2025, the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) released a detailed analysis on patent, trademark, industrial design, and software filings made by Latin American countries in Brazil between 2002 and 2021, along with an overview of Brazilian patent applications filed in Latin American countries. The material, titled “Filing Flow of Industrial Property Assets in Brazil by Latin American Applicants,” is part of the “Radar Tecnológico” series, a division of INPI dedicated to innovation studies. The research identifies Mexico and Argentina as the leading countries in trademark and patent filings in Brazil and highlights Brazil’s leadership in innovation within Latin America and the Caribbean.

In the case of patents, a total of 2,422 patent applications were filed in Brazil between 2002 and 2021. Mexico accounted for about one-third of the total (31%) and, together with Argentina (24%) and Chile (17%), represented 72% of all filings. Additionally, Chile and Colombia stood out for their growth in the number of patent applications filed in Brazil. Between 2002 and 2006, Chile accounted for 6% and Colombia for 4% of Latin American patent applications in Brazil. These shares rose significantly between 2017 and 2021, reaching 22% and 11%, respectively.

Mexican companies filing patents in Brazil are primarily from the chemical and petrochemical sectors, while the top filers from Chile and Argentina are mainly universities and research institutions. The technology sector accounts for more than half of the patent filings from Mexico and Chile, while Argentina stands out for innovations in mechanical engineering, which represent 47% of its patent filings.

Regarding trademarks, 29,696 applications were filed in Brazil between 2002 and 2021. As with patents, Mexico (25%) and Argentina (25%), followed by Chile (17%), are the main countries of origin for trademark filers, together representing 70% of all applications. Product trademarks account for 74.5% of the filings, with the food and beverage sector (classes 29 to 33 of the Nice Classification) being the most prominent, representing 25% of the regional total.

Mexico stands out in the categories of non-alcoholic beverages and plant-based foods, while Argentina leads in alcoholic beverages, plant-based, and animal-based food products. In addition, pharmaceutical preparations (Class 5) had the highest number of trademark filings among Latin American applicants in Brazil. Although product trademarks make up the majority, service trademarks account for 25.5% of the registrations granted to applicants from the region, with Class 35 — covering business management, advertising, and marketing services — being the most significant.

As for industrial designs, a total of 554 applications were filed by Latin American countries in Brazil during the period. Argentina was responsible for 35% of these filings, followed by Mexico (25%) and Chile (14%). Most applications relate to packaging and containers for transporting or handling goods. Software registrations were less frequent, with only 32 filings between 2002 and 2021, primarily from applicants in Uruguay, Argentina, and Colombia.

Regarding Brazilian patent filings in Latin America, 3,804 applications were recorded over a ten-year period, grouped into 2,631 INPADOC patent families, surpassing the total number of Latin American filings in Brazil. The five Brazilian states with the highest number of international filings were São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, and Minas Gerais. Among Brazilian inventions seeking protection in Latin America, 62% were registered in Argentina, 50% in Mexico, and 20% in Chile. In addition to Latin American countries, 70% of these innovations also sought protection in other global markets, including the United States, Europe, and China. Mechanical engineering was the most relevant technological field among Brazilian patent filings in Latin America.

Finally, the study emphasizes that MERCOSUR countries are strategic markets both for Brazilian innovators and for inventors across Latin America. Argentina received almost two-thirds of the Brazilian patent applications, with a focus on basic material chemistry and special machinery. In Mexico and Chile, Brazilian filings were concentrated in fine organic chemistry and pharmaceutical products.

The study can be accessed via the link: Technological Radar

Note: For quick release, this English version is provided by automated translation without human review.