Formation of regional Intellectual Property Office urged

It is absolutely essential for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to form a regional Intellectual Property Office in order to broaden the market of local inventors.

In an interview at the sidelines of the 4th Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Conference (HIPOC) held at the Peninsula Manila, Manual Desantes, vice president of the European Patent Office (EPO) said there is a need for a regional system in the ASEAN.

“It is absolutely essential,” Desantes told reporters.

According to Desantes, the Philippine system is similar to that of Thailand and Singapore. “In some years the situation will be that the market of Philippine inventors will go beyond the country. It will be regional,” Desantes explained.

At the same time, Desantes said the patent office in the Philippines is very good. “The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) is a model in the region because there is a clear action plan,” he said.

For his part, IP Philippines  director general Adrian Cristobal Jr. said ASEAN, especially, with its goal of the ASEAN Common Market by the next decade, has its own scenario building to do for the IP system.

However, Cristobal acknowledged that there may be some difficulties in setting up an ASEAN IP Office.

“There may be different perspectives among countries and regions, but there is a common ground where our interests converge,” Cristobal said.

Cristobal, who is hosting the annual conference, said there is a need to innovate the IP system given the development of technology and the growing power of big businesses.

He said a patent is now considered a financial instrument since at least 70 percent of the patents belong to large companies.