Hague Agreement Turns Three: Insights on its Implementation in Brazil
August 4, 2026
By Silvia Boechat and Ana Carolina Corrêa
For those who may not be up to date on industrial design protection in Brazil, August 2026 marked the third anniversary of Brazil’s participation in the Hague System for International Registration of Industrial Designs.
The Hague Agreement, administrated by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), provides a centralized system through which applicants can seek protection for industrial designs in multiple Contracting Parties via a single international application. The system is designed to simplify the filing and registration process of industrial designs across jurisdictions, reducing the need to navigate separate filing procedures in each country.
Brazil joined the Hague System in 2023, with the agreement becoming effective in the country on August 1 of that year. Its implementation granted Brazilian applicants access to a streamlined mechanism for seeking international design protection, while also enabling foreign applicants to designate Brazil in their international applications.
While the Hague System simplifies international filing, it does not bypass local laws. Once Brazil is designated, the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BRPTO) still examine the design application under the Brazilian IP Statute to determine whether the protection can be granted.
To secure granting, applicants must fulfill specific local requirements. For example, if a WIPO-DAS code was not provided during the international phase, a copy of the claimed priority document must be submitted within the legal term. Furthermore, applicants must appoint a local Brazilian attorney to handle any missing requirements and respond to office actions issued by the BRPTO. Therefore, understanding the specific requirements and examination practices of each designated country remains highly relevant and often decisive in securing industrial design protection.
In other words, the Hague system represents a significant opportunity for the international protection of industrial designs. However, to fully leverage its potential, applicants must have a solid knowledge of the national rules and practices that ultimately define the scope of protection in each jurisdiction.
If you are interested in filing international industrial design applications or learning more about industrial design registration in Brazil and the Hague System, contact us at cobo@coboip.com. We will be pleased to assist you.
