Standard Essential Patent Litigation in Brazil: Brazil as a Leveling Jurisdiction for Global Disputes

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18256/2238-0604.2026.v22i.5389

Keywords:

Standard-Essential Patents; Patent Litigation; Injunctions; FRAND Licensing; Global Licensing Agreements.

Abstract

This article provides an empirical analysis of litigation involving standard-essential patents (SEPs) in Brazil. The study identifies 61 cases through May 2026: 52 infringement actions brought by SEP holders and nine declaratory or specific-performance actions brought by implementers. The results show a sharp recent increase in litigation, a high rate of interim injunctions among decided requests, and the predominance of global licensing agreements among closed cases. Of the 52 infringement actions, 37 were filed after January 2025; among the 26 decided requests for interim relief, 22 injunctions remained in force; and 25 of the 27 closed actions ended after the parties entered into global licensing agreements. The article argues that these findings are consistent with Brazil playing a strategic role in the transnational architecture of SEP licensing. Although Brazilian courts formally adjudicate only national patents, remedies capable of restricting sales in a significant market may increase the cost of remaining unlicensed and thereby influence global negotiations. This finding does not establish that Brazilian injunctions caused the agreements subsequently reached, nor does it support a uniform characterization of their use as either a legitimate response to holdout or an instrument of holdup. The article’s contribution lies in empirically documenting the connection between territorial patent enforcement and global licensing negotiations, showing Brazil is Brazil is a leveling jurisdiction for global disputes.

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Author Biographies

  • Gabriel de Aguiar Tajra, Advogado associado ao escritório Del Chiaro Pereira Advogados.

    Mestrando em Direito pela Harvard Law School. Mestre em Direito pela Universidade de São Paulo. Advogado associado ao escritório Del Chiaro Pereira Advogados. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1056-8433. E-mail: [email protected]. Gabriel Tajra representou detentores de patentes essenciais em investigações antitruste no Brasil. Contudo, a sua participação no artigo não foi objeto de financiamento dessas empresas, e o texto reflete exclusivamente sua opinião.

  • Arthur Sadami, Pesquisador do Centro de Tecnologia e Sociedade da FGV Direito Rio

    Mestre em Direito pela Yale Law School. Mestre e Doutorando em Direito pela Universidade de São Paulo. Pesquisador do Centro de Tecnologia e Sociedade da FGV Direito Rio, do Núcleo de Pesquisa em Concorrência, Política Pública, Inovação e Tecnologia da FGV Direito SP e do CEBRAP.

  • Nicolo Zingales, Professor na FGV Direito Rio

    Doutor em Direito Internacional e Economia pela Università Bocconi. Professor na FGV Direito Rio

References

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Published

2026-07-30

Issue

Vol. 22 (2026): Special Edition

Section

SEP - FRAND

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Copyright (c) 2026 Gabriel de Aguiar Tajra, Arthur Sadami, Nicolo Zingales

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How to Cite

TAJRA, Gabriel de Aguiar; SADAMI, Arthur; ZINGALES, Nicolo. Standard Essential Patent Litigation in Brazil: Brazil as a Leveling Jurisdiction for Global Disputes. Revista Brasileira de Direito, Passo Fundo, RS, Brasil, v. 22, 2026. DOI: 10.18256/2238-0604.2026.v22i.5389. Disponível em: https://seer.atitus.edu.br/index.php/revistadedireito/article/view/5389. Acesso em: 1 aug. 2026.