Through Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property
Code of the Philippines, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines
(IPOPHL) was created. It is the Philippines’ lead agency in implementing state
policies on Intellectual Property (IP).
It is headed by a Director General and is composed of
seven bureaus:
1.
Bureau of Patents (BOP)
Processes the registration, examination and granting of
patent applications, utility models, industrial designs, and integrated
circuits
2.
Bureau of Trademarks
Conducts the search, examination, and granting of the
applications for the registration of marks, geographic indications and other
marks of ownership
3.
Bureau of Legal Affairs
Handles all legal matters concerning Intellectual Property
Rights
4.
Documentation,
Information, and Technology Transfer Bureau
Provides technical support services to the other bureaus
and takes charge of Intellectual Property promotion activities and knowledge
management in the country
5.
Management Information
Service
In charge of maintaining IPOPHL’s information technology
systems
6.
Financial Management and
Administrative Service
Ensures the proper utilization of IPOPHL funds
7.
Bureau of Copyright
[currently ad hoc]
The newest addition to the IPOPHL family promotes
awareness of IP rights and the accreditation of collective management
organizations (CMOs)
Aside from the registration of patents, trademarks, and
copyright, IPOPHL also offers patent information searches, dispute resolution, adjudication
of Inter Partes cases and IP
violations, technology transfer, and training.
In an effort to expand the reach of IPOPHL, Intellectual Property Satellite Offices
(IPSOs) in Cebu and Davao were established in 2008. After this initiative to make
IP services more accessible and to ease the implementation of projects in the said
regions, there was an increase in IP filings seen in both areas. Soon after, offices
in Baguio City, Angeles City, Legaspi City, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Cagayan de
Oro City, Davao City, and General Santos City were set up as a result of two
pilot IPSOs’ success.
In 2012, the Innovation
Technology Support Office (ITSO) network was established to push for the
commercialization of technologies generated from the research outputs of local
universities, research institutions, businesses, and inventors. There are
currently over 80 certified ITSOs spread throughout the archipelago.
More recently, IP
Depot –the Philippines’ first online IP marketplace was launched. Owners of
registered IP assets can use the website as a free showground while other users
can easily shop for IPs, including the latest and available technology for
their businesses.
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The IPOPHL logo features a letter “O” in the shape of a light bulb, the
universal symbol of a good idea. Inside the light bulb is the word “una” which
means first, as written in Baybayin,
an ancient pre-colonial Philippine writing system used from the 16th
to 19th centuries. At IPOPHL, premium is given to being first, as
“first in time results in seniority of rights” whether in the registration of a
patent, trademark, copyright or other related rights.
