New Guidelines for the examination of computer-implemented inventions

The BRPTO issued on December 6, 2016, the long awaited Rule #158/2016 implementing the Guidelines for the examination of patent applications claiming computer-implemented inventions.This guideline was under public consultation in 2012, and since then its publication was expected. It makes official the practice that the BRPTO had been applying, since the examiners already examined according to this proposed guideline, and its publication brings more certainty on how to claim.The original Rule #158/2016 in Portuguese can be downloaded here. Licks Attorneys will provide an English version shortly