IP Philippines: More patent, trademark applications filed this year

MANILA, Philippines - The culture of innovation continues to flourish all over the country as patent and trademark applications post triple digit growth.

According to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines’ (IP Philippines), its satellite offices in Cebu, Angeles, Davao, Legazpi, and Baguio have recorded 577 patent and trademark applications across the country from January to November this year, or almost triple the figure last year.

“Efforts to strengthen our services and presence in the provinces are proving to be effective as our IPSOs continue to penetrate IP owners and groups in the regions,” said Adrian Cristobal Jr., director general of IP Philippines.

Of the five areas where the IPSOs are located, Cebu generated the most number of trademark filings (153), followed by Legaspi (152), Davao (95), Baguio (46), and Angeles (41).

Of the 577 applications, 487 were for trademark, 372 were filed online while 115 were coursed through the traditional face-to-face method. Cristobal said this is proof that the mechanisms installed to speed up the filing process are generating positive results.

Inventors from Davao were the most active in protecting their creations with 34 total patent applications. This was followed by Cebu with 29, then Legazpi (19), Angeles (4) and Baguio (3).

The IPSO program was created to engage inventors and entrepreneurs in the countryside and encourage them to grow their intellectual property (IP) by registering their creations. Through this initiative, IP Philippines taps not just individual IP generators but industry associations as well.

By decentralizing its services from its headquarters in Manila, IP Philippines is able to provide fast and efficient service to IP generators in the provinces. This initiative is being undertaken by IP Philippines with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Regional Operations Group.

On its first year of implementation last year, a total of 139 applications were received by the IP satellite offices – 133 for trademarks and six for patents. More information at www.ipophil.gov.ph.