Merck succeeds before Brazilian courts on compelling the Brazilian Patent Office (BRPTO) to expedite examination of patent applications pending for over 12 years.MERCK & CO, INC, one of the larges users of the Brazilian patent system obtained a favorable judgement from Brazilian Federal Courts granting expedited examination of a patent application covering Temodal IV filed before the BRPTO almost 13 years ago. Less than three months after the lawsuit has been filed, the 31st Federal Trial Court rendered a favorable judgement to MERCK, compelling the BRPTO to perform the substantive examination of the application and, if requirements are met, to expedite the granting of the patent and issuance of the letter patent. MERCK is represented by Licks Attorneys.