Patents

The concept of artificial intelligence (AI) is a global phenomenon that has taken over every aspect of life. AI is the possibility and capability of computer systems to perform human-designed tasks with little or no errors. Early innovators and researchers of AI believed that human intelligence and behaviour could be neatly copied and translated by intelligent machines that had been designed to do so. In Nigeria and globally, AI has been widely accepted and indoctrinated across various fields of life.

We are proud to announce that Inventa has been recognized in the annual Leaders League ranking of the best firms in Portugal. This year, we have been distinguished as a Leading Firm in both “Trademark Prosecution” and “Patent Prosecution,” and as a Recommended Firm in the “IP Litigation” category. These distinctions reflect outstanding contributions of our team members, including Vítor Palmela Fidalgo, Vítor Sérgio Moreira, João Pereira Cabral, and Joana Fialho Pinto.

With deep expertise in intellectual property law and a role as an expert at the UPC Mediation and Arbitration Centre, Vitor Palmela Fidalgo shares the challenges and priorities of advising clients on IP matters both locally and internationally, and explains how the Unified Patent Court (UPC) is shaping patent litigation, enforcement, and broader IP trends in Portugal and across Europe.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ultimate buzzword at the moment. But from a patent-based perspective, it is more than just the new fad: it is a pointer to technological developments and signals what consumers should expect from new products coming to the market in the near future.

For all the patent attorneys out there, it is also an indicator of the technologies we will be expected to deal with and translate into patent documents. So let’s have a look at what has been happening in the past few years.

When it all started

We are proud to share that Inventa has once again been recognised in the 2025 edition of the IAM Patent 1000, a leading guide dedicated to identifying top patent professionals worldwide. In the Prosecution category for Portugal, Inventa was highlighted for its continued excellence and expertise in the field.

The Harare Protocol, one of ARIPO’s cornerstone agreements, allows applicants to secure protection for patents, utility models, and industrial designs through a single ARIPO application, with the same effect as if filed directly in each designated member state. This regional mechanism has long been a valuable tool for rights holders seeking efficient, centralized IP protection across participating African jurisdictions. In this context, we would like to highlight the recent expansion of the system.

As of March 1, 2025, the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) has enacted a series of major amendments to its governing legal instrument, the Harare Protocol, which regulates the procedure for the protection of patents and industrial designs among its member states.

The intersection of intellectual property (IP) and genomics is reshaping the landscape of healthcare, biotechnology, and business in Nigeria. Genomics—the study of an organism’s entire genetic material—has profound implications for medical research, personalised medicine, agriculture, and pharmaceutical innovations. However, ensuring equitable benefits and commercial viability requires a robust IP framework.

On April 8, the first in-person meeting of the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) of the Unified Patent Court was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Vítor Palmela Fidalgo, Legal Director at Inventa and the Portugal’s representative of the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) Committee, attended the session, contributing to ongoing efforts to structure the Court’s Mediation and Arbitration Center and to define specific topics essential to the development of PMAC’s operations.