IPOPHL Streamlines Further its Mediation Process

September 29, 2021

With the aim of further achieving efficiency in the mediation of cases, The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) issued Memorandum Circular No. 2021-023 promulgating supplemental guidelines to the Revised Rules on Mediation.

Under the supplemental guidelines, thirty (30) days after the referral of the case to mediation, the parties shall be required by the Bureau of Legal Affairs-Alternative Dispute Resolution Services, to expressly signify, by filling up the prescribed form, whether or not they want to terminate the mediation. Otherwise, if the parties desire to continue, the mediation shall proceed within the maximum ninety (90)-day period as provided in the Revised Rules on Mediation. 

The early termination will benefit parties who feel that an amicable settlement is no longer feasible or to continue with the mediation proceedings given the possibility of settlement. This measure is also consistent with the parties’ autonomy principle in mediation and to be able to decide on the possible outcome of the mediation at the earliest time possible. The IPOPHL sees that further streamlining the administrative procedures enhances the settlement of cases.

IPOPHL implemented its mediation service to provide an option to parties in dispute for an effective and judicious resolution of IP cases. Since the start of its mediation service in February 2011, a total of 637 cases were settled as of August 2021 out of 1,680 mediated cases, yielding a 37.9% settlement rate.