IP Key LA continues its efforts to promote the “network effect” in Latin American IP offices

IP Key Latin America, with the support of the National Institute of Industrial Property of Brazil (INPI) and of the European Patent Office (EPO), hosted a workshop in Rio de Janeiro on the use of free patent information tools of the EPO.  The activity is in line with the experience of the European Union Intellectual Property Network which promotes the adoption of common practices and the development and deployment of technological tools that help improve the functioning of IP offices and provide easy access to information on patents, trademarks and designs.

Led by an EPO expert the training workshop was attended by 20 examiners from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, with the goal of providing in-depth and hands-on training on the use of Espacenet, Common Citation Documents and the Global Dossier.

Sponsored by IP Key, this joint effort is a contribution to increasing the efficiency of Latin American IP Offices and improving the predictability of their decisions in examination through a better understanding of the usefulness of EPO patent information tools, as well as a greater understanding of the EPO’s search and examination reports.

The event is a step forward in moving the LA region closer to the extension of the IP network that promotes the cooperation of EU Member States with third countries and multilateral organizations.