Brazil STJ: Patent Infringement Presumes Moral Damages, No Proof of Harm Needed

Brazil's Superior Court of Justice ruled that patent infringement alone suffices to presume moral damages (in re ipsa), aligning patent protection with trademark jurisprudence. This lowers the evidentiary burden for patent holders seeking damages, potentially increasing litigation risk for infringers. The decision reinstates a conviction against companies that manufactured and sold products without the patent holder's authorization.