Federal Court of Appeals creates specialized IP panels

The Brazilian Federal Court of Appeals for the Second Region, which covers the States of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo, has been reorganized to include two panels specializing in IP matters.

Following the changes, implemented on February 1, the court comprises eight panels of three judges each. The first and second panels are responsible for deciding cases involving IP issues as well as criminal and social security cases.

The first panel comprises the following judges:

• Maria Helena Cisne;
  
  
• Sérgio Feltrin; and
  
  
• Abel Gomes.

The second panel is made up of:

• Poul Erik Dyrlund;
  
  
• André Fontes; and
  
  
• Reis Friede.

The creation of specialized IP panels within the court is particularly important as the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is located within the court's jurisdiction. Consequently, the court hears a significant number of cases on appeal from the PTO. It is hoped that the specialization of the court will increase both the quality and speed of decisions in IP cases.

The specialization follows a process initiated by the creation of specific federal courts of first instance to decide cases involving industrial property rights in 2000.

Rodrigo Borges Carneiro, Dannemann Siemsen Bigler & Ipanema Moreira, Rio de Janeiro