Basic Guide for Software
Understand
If you have developed a software or its latest version, it is possible to apply for registration with the Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property – INPI through the electronic system e-Software.
The register ensures more legal protection to its holder if there is a judicial claim to prove the software’s authorship or ownership.
See also:
More information (digital signature, hash summary and others)
Prepare the documents
Before applying for registration of your software, encrypt the text or the file that contains the source code using a suitable algorithm to transform it into a digital hash summary.This summary shall be entered into the electronic filing form. You will also need to include the Veracity Declaration (DV) in order to create the Brazilian Federal Revenue collection slip (GRU), as detailed in the next step.
Pay the GRU
In order to apply for registration, you must:
- Issue the Federal Government Payment Form (GRU) with code 730. Pay the document before applying for registration and keep the number, as it will be required to start the process.
Please also download the Veracity Declaration (DV) and sign it digitally to later include it in your application.
Initiate the application
Only start the process after paying the GRU. Access e-Software and fill in the online form.
At this moment, you must enter the hash summary and the Veracity Declaration (DV) digitally signed.
See the steps to fill in the online form in the e-Software system.
Follow-up
After the payment is confirmed, the average time for the register to be published is of up to 10 days from the date on which the register was requested. The certificate shall be made available for download at INPI’s portal.
You may follow up on the progress of the process by:
- Consulting Revista de Propriedade Industrial (INPI’s Gazette), published on Tuesdays.
- Accessing the search system. You may select your process and include it on “My Applications,” a system that notifies you by email whenever there is an activity in the process. This is an additional service provided by INPI and does not replace the consultation to INPI’s Gazette.
Learn how to access the software registration certificate.
Application in progress
We recommend reading Normative Instruction (IN) 099/2019 and the User Guide to settle any doubts on the progress of the process.
If you could not find an answer to your question, please send us a message through the Contact Us system.
Effectiveness of the right
The register of software is effective for 50 years after its creation or after January 1st of the year following its publication. Its protection is not territorial, that is, its scope is international, comprising the 175 signatory countries to the Berne Convention (1886).