This year, the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) granted RNP five new brands: RUTE (Telemedicine University Network), Redecomep (Research and Education Community Networks), ViaIpê and Mconf as service, as well as Mconf as product. In all, RNP accounts, among registers and applications, for 55 computer programs, 29 brands, one integrated circuit topography, three patent applications and 15 signed technology licensing contracts.

According to the Industrial Property Law, trademark is every sign - word, image and symbol - that visually identifies and differentiates products and services in relation to others that are equal or similar. Thus, through it, the business can be recognized and distinguished from others by customers and consumers. RNP protects its brands, precisely to add value to the business and its portfolio of products and services.

The organization develops several projects, supporting the emergence of new research, generating innovative technology and enriching knowledge production in Brazil. Thus, the effort to protect intellectual property created internally or in partnership benefits not only the organization but several companies, research groups and the Brazilian innovation ecosystem. "Because of this, RNP has generated innovation indicators for the institution and also for the country, in connection to the treatment of intellectual property and the conduction of these technological results with potential business for the market", says the RNP’s New Businesses analyst, Henrique Ferraz. Check out the interview below.

1. What is the importance of a brand for the organization?

The brand is among the most important properties and assets of a company, because through it, the business can be identified and differentiated from the others by the customers. When well cared for, it adds value to the company and to the portfolio of products and services, bringing several benefits, both direct and indirect, and establishing a link between the business and the customers. In the case of RNP, which has the main business represented by the Ipê network and all its connectivity and infrastructure, this brand is understood by customers (federal universities and institutes, for example) as the reference for the quality of products and services related to this network.

2. And what benefits the company has by taking good care of them?

Registering a trademark is the only way to protect it legally against potential copiers and competition, and to gain space, evidence and prestige in the market. For this, the company must seek the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and make the application for registration, which will be examined in accordance with the Industrial Property Law (LPI No. 9.279) and other administrative resolutions of the agency. In the case of a registered trademark, it guarantees the holder the right of exclusive use throughout the national territory, which can be extended to 137 other countries, since Brazil is a member of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (WIPO) in its field of economic activity and, shortly (according to INPI itself), will also be a member of the Madrid Protocol, called the Madrid International Trademark System. In summary, the trademark holder of the product or service will have legally ensured the right to exploit and enjoy those benefits in the countries where the registrations are made.

3. How does RNP takes care of its assets?

RNP has a team dedicated to the management of intellectual property and that takes care of all the proceedings related to the registrations/deposits of technologies and trademarks in INPI. Currently, we have a total of 55 computer programs, 28 brands, three patent applications, one integrated circuit topography and 15 signed technology licensing agreements in total, including registrations and deposits.

4. How the protection of RNP’s intellectual property supports the development of small, medium and large companies in the country?

After the treatment of all intellectual property generated by RNP and its partnerships, the next step is to seek companies – start-ups, small, medium or large - that are interested in using and marketing these technologies. This contractual process that transmits the intellectual property or scientific and technological knowledge of one part (ICT/institution) to another (company/third party) is called technology licensing. The purpose is to provide access to technologies developed on a laboratory scale to companies that have an interest in developing and exploiting them commercially through new products, processes and/or services. This makes it possible to leverage the economy of the state and country, generating several benefits to the licensed companies, such as value creation, revenue and royalties, stimulating the use of Brazilian technologies, generating jobs, enjoyment from tax benefits, and business sustainability.