The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to renew their partnership and improve cooperation in IP protection and enforcement.
In a news statement issued on Monday, the IP agency reported that IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba and USPTO Acting Director Drew Hirshfeld signed the new accord on May 5.
The agreement covers training and capacity building to improve office administration, human resource development and examination of patent and trademark, among others.
The pact also highlights promotion of IP in innovation and economic growth by holding seminars and workshops.
Manila and Washington also agreed to share “IP-related, non-confidential information and best practices on the process of examination of patent and trademark applications and registrations, efficient operation of an IP office, IP laws, rules, and regulations, and IP rights protection and enforcement.”
The USPTO assigned IPOPHL as an international searching authority and preliminary searching authority (ISA/IPEA).
An ISA/IPEA prepares examination reports mandated under international application process provided by the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
The World Intellectual Property Organization has designated only 23 ISA/IPEA to date.
In addition, the USPTO also committed to provide capacity building on IP awareness, education, valuation, commercialization and technology transfer arrangements.
Barba said that the “renewed and enhanced partnership” of IPOPHL with USPTO would ensure more improvements in terms of providing service to inventors, creators and businesses.
“The first round of bilateral cooperation with USPTO had greatly benefited the IPOPHL as it enhanced our efficiencies in IP administration, management, patent and trademark examination and enforcement. As we continue to carry out this partnership with added goals, IPOPHL and the USPTO will surely improve aligning our practices for the benefit of businesses in both countries and spur innovation at a time of crisis when it is most needed,” Barba said.
Earlier this month, IPOPHL announced the Philippines has been kept off the Special 301 Watchlist by the US Trade Representative for eight years. The country was also cleared of unlicensed software use allegations on the part of the government.
The USTR’s watchlist is an annual review of the global situation pertaining to IP protection and enforcement.
Barba previously said that the exclusion of the Philippines from the Special 301 report bodes well for the business sector. This helps promote the country as a “vibrant investment place for US and other foreign businesses,” he explained.
IPOPHL aims to return to the pre-pandemic level of IP applications this year, banking on filings from micro, small and medium enterprises.
Last year, IP applications had gone down, a development which Barba attributed to prolonged lockdown measures not only in Metro Manila but in other major areas as well. Trademark applications fell by 10 percent to 35,724, while patents shrunk by 9 percent to 3,648. Utility models filings plunged by 45 percent to 1,235; industrial design, 23 percent, 1,259; copyright, 44 percent, 940.
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