Brazil’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) has placed examination efficiency at the centre of its 2026 action plan, with artificial intelligence tools expected to support searches, classification and substantive review for trademarks and industrial designs. For applicants, this should not be read as a simple IT update. If the new tools are matched with reliable data, examiner oversight and clear operating criteria, Brazil’s long examination timelines could begin to move in a more predictable direction.
The plan also points to stronger regional protection for geographical indications, including cooperation across Latin America and the Caribbean and within the Mercosur framework. The practical message is fairly direct: INPI is trying to combine speed with wider regional coordination. Companies preparing trademark, design or origin-based protection in Brazil should pay closer attention to the quality and consistency of filing materials, because automation tends to reward well-structured records and expose weak or ambiguous claims more quickly.
