Today, we celebrate the professionals who drive technological, scientific, and industrial development. Engineering plays a central role in solutions that enhance efficiency, safety, and progress, shaping the future of innovation in Brazil and around the world.

At Araripe Advogados, we recognize the fundamental role of engineers within the field of Intellectual Property. Their technical precision is essential for patentability analyses, the interpretation of inventions, the preparation of technical opinions, prior art searches, and the definition of protection strategies. This collaboration between technical and legal expertise strengthens the security of our clients’ technological assets.

When discussing technological advances, it is impossible to overlook one of the most emblematic controversies in history: who invented the airplane?

In the United States, the Wright brothers are recognized and listed as the holders of U.S. Patent No. 821,393 (granted in 1906), which protected a model powered by a catapult and rails. In that same year, the Brazilian Santos Dumont carried out the first public and widely documented flight with the 14-bis—an autonomous model capable of taking off and landing on its own—and, by choosing not to patent his aircraft, contributed to one of the greatest debates in aviation history regarding who was, in fact, the true pioneer.

To all engineers—especially those who are part of our team and our clients—we express our appreciation for their continuous dedication to innovation and for strengthening the Intellectual Property ecosystem.

Photo source: José Rosael/Hélio Nobre – USP Paulista Museum/Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain).

Black Friday always brings tempting offers, but it also increases the circulation of counterfeit products due to the difficulty of identifying them among legitimate items. The recent case of beverages adulterated with methanol, which caused poisonings and deaths in São Paulo, shows the real risk of purchasing products outside reliable channels. Counterfeit beverages, cosmetics, electronics and even medicines, which do not undergo quality control, can put your health at risk.

In addition, there is an essential point often associated with this type of practice: the violation of Intellectual Property. Products that imitate registered trademarks, copy packaging or reproduce distinctive signs without authorization commit legal infringement and are often associated with other criminal activities, strengthening a parallel market that harms companies and puts consumers at risk. According to the OECD–EUIPO*, global trade in counterfeit products reached 467 billion Brazilian real in 2021. In Brazil, the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) estimates annual losses of 453 billion Brazilian real —around 4% of Brazil’s GDP— as a direct result of piracy, counterfeiting and smuggling.

 When buying, pay attention to warning signs:

• Prices far below the market average;
• Lack of reviews or clear information;
• Absence of an invoice; or
• New or unreliable profiles on digital platforms.

Choosing official sellers and confirming product authenticity is the best way to enjoy Black Friday safely — and to strengthen a market that respects innovation and Intellectual Property.

In recent months, viral videos on social media have revealed what many had already suspected: a significant portion of luxury brand products are manufactured through outsourcing, often in countries with more favorable labor laws and lower production costs.

These products, now caught in broader geopolitical power struggles involving international tariffs in a sensitive scenario, have had their production details disclosed by local manufacturers. They have questioned the added value attributed to luxury brands, exposed local production lines, and raised concerns about the benefits of indirect versus direct purchasing, which generates legal and commercial implications.

Although regulations involving luxury goods may allow products to be labeled as manufactured in a specific country based on a minimum percentage of local production, the sale of luxury items does not necessarily serve only a commercial or profit-driven purpose.

When purchasing luxury goods, we are not just acquiring quality materials or craftsmanship. It’s not just Hermès leather, for instance, that gives their products such high market value. By purchasing these items, we are embracing a certain status, showcasing particular quality or financial achievement, or simply gaining access to a product that, initially, has an enormous waiting list.

However, what seems to have sparked buzz on social media is not only the outsourcing of luxury goods production—which is expected by more informed consumers—but the disconnection between reality and the image brands have promoted: one of artisanal, unique, and meticulous craftsmanship, as opposed to the mass production typical of fast fashion items like those from Zara.

Despite the gap between consumer expectations set by luxury brands and the reality of part of their production, the truth is that luxury brands distinguish themselves not only by the quality of the materials used and the specialization of labor (even if at lower cost due to outsourcing), but also through stringent quality control, specialized services, superior finishes, and the symbolic and intangible value attached to the brand, along with everything that associates with it, such as the personalized shopping experience.

In fact, many luxury fashion items, such as watches, handbags, shoes, and eyewear, are viewed as true financial investments. Depending on their condition and whether they are actually resold, they can outperform the return on investment (ROI) of even the most efficient and renowned financial funds.

In addition to the aforementioned attributes, verified provenance through invoices and official certificates is essential for valuing items in the case of future resale. This is where direct purchases, even if sourced from the same outsourced manufacturer, reveal their vulnerability. In addition to undermining a structured and specialized production chain, such acquisitions may constitute violations of intellectual property rights—including trademarks, industrial designs, trade dress, and trade secrets—and breach exclusivity and distribution agreements established between brands and their partners. Therefore, this is not just a commercial issue but one with significant legal consequences.

For companies that manufacture or outsource production outside their home countries, understanding the local market is as important as registering their assets. The lack of an adequate protection strategy can create an opportunity for third parties—including former partners—to preemptively register trademarks, industrial designs, or packaging as their own.

This highlights the importance of structured international protection of intellectual property assets from the outset of operations. Specialized legal counsel—especially during the internationalization process—is crucial for identifying risks, building a defensive strategy, and ensuring the legal security necessary for the company’s international expansion to be solid, enduring, and aligned with the global reputation the brand seeks to maintain.

Font: Araripe