Cebu furniture makers told to protect industrial designs

CEBU, Philippines - An official from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) urged Cebu furniture manufacturers to protect their industrial designs by registering with the agency.

IPOPHIL-Visayas Manager Engineer Eric C. Paden said that only few furniture producers in Cebu have yet protected their industrial designs with the agency.

"We expected that more industrial designs will be registered in Cebu because this is a furniture city but they are not doing it," Paden said in a recent interview.

IPOPHIL defines industrial design as an ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an item.

IPOPHIL noted that when an industrial design is protected, the owner – the person or entity that has registered the design -- is assured an exclusive right against unauthorized copying of the design by third parties.

"This helps to ensure a fair return on investment. An effective system of protection also benefits consumers and the public at large, by promoting fair competition and honest trade practices, encouraging creativity and promoting more aesthetically attractive products," IPOPHIL said.

Paden said protecting industrial designs will encourage creativity in industrial and manufacturing sectors.

On another matter, when asked for his reaction on the recent issue that alleged IPOPHIL in committing intellectual theft, Paden declined to comment.

He said this was the first time the agency was involved in such a controversy but stopped short of giving further details.

Baybayin advocacy group, a design agency, earlier accused IPOPHIL of allegedly using the former's logo design that it pitched and submitted to the patent and trademark agency.

But in an earlier statement, IPOPHIL maintained that its new logo came from the Design Center of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry.

"The concepts of creativity, innovation, colors and various facets of IP served as guidance for the logo design," it said. "It must be stressed that IPOPHIL has never met nor transacted with any of the officers or members of the Baybayin group from conceptualization until finalization of the logo." (FREEMAN)