The XVII BRICS Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”, provided a platform for debating the direction of the global economy and innovation. Licks Attorneys was honored to be represented at the BRICS Business Forum by our partner, Ambassador Regis Arslanian. His participation focused on bringing the perspective of those who drive research and development (R&D) and investment in new technologies, particularly in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Life Sciences sectors.

On intellectual property (IP), the Rio de Janeiro Declaration addressed collaboration between BRICS IP Offices to enhance awareness and training, making IP a cornerstone on economic and social development. The document also mentioned the adoption of WIPO Treaties, on IP, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge, and the Riyadh Design Law Treaty. The Declaration highlighted the importance of defending IP rights in a digital landscape, protecting fair remuneration to rights holders. The priorities of developing countries and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), including the misappropriation and misrepresentation of knowledge and cultural values in AI models, were also considered.

The declaration also recognized that the Partnership on New Industrial Revolution (PartNIR) serves a guidelines platform to identify new opportunities in the industrial landscape. In this regard, initiatives such as the China Centre for BRICS Industrial Competence (CCBIC) and BRICS’ High-Level Forum on AI, jointly presided by Brazil and China and organized by the China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Center, were also highlighted.

Furthermore, the commitment to deepen cooperation in competition law and policy between BRICS countries was reaffirmed, with a focus on combating cross-border anti-competitive practices and creating more favorable conditions for the development of competition law.

Amid these complex discussions, Ambassador Arslanian's presence at the Business Forum proved fundamental in articulating the needs and challenges faced by companies investing in innovation. His contribution aimed to ensure that emerging BRICS policies and guidelines acknowledge the vital role of IP protection as a driver for R&D investment, technology transfer, and sustainable economic growth. The Summit’s deliberations reinforce the importance of ongoing dialogue between governments and the private sector to foster an innovation-friendly environment while addressing global concerns for inclusion and development.

The BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to more representative and equitable global governance. For the technology and life sciences sectors, discussions on IP and AI hold critical importance, shaping the landscape for future innovations.

Licks Attorneys, through the expertise and the work of professionals such as Ambassador Arslanian, remains committed to monitoring and influencing these debates, ensuring that IP owners’ interests are represented and that the business environment remains favorable to technological advancement and prosperity. We will continue to monitor the development of these forums and look forward so that, in the future, topics such as Patent Term Adjustment (PTA), Patent Term Extension (PTE), and the strengthening of mechanisms for the enforcement of IP rights are included, in order to ensure even greater protection for investments in innovation.