IPOPHL launches Patent eCerts, achieves full online service for patent filings

March 2, 2022

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is now issuing electronic Certificates for Patents or Patent eCert, the newest digitalization milestone that completes the agency’s goal of an end-to-end online service for patent applications.

In welcoming this development, Director General Rowel S. Barba lauded the Bureau of Patents (BOP) and the Management Information Service (MIS).

“Today’s launch is timely as IPOPHL is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with the theme ‘Creating a Silver BRIGHT Future.’ Thanks to BOP and  MIS, the completion of our digitalization journey will ensure a forward-looking IPOPHL ready to welcome a more inclusive and more innovative, ‘Silver BRIGHT’ future for Filipinos,” Barba said at the launch of the electronic system last February 28.

Barba added that while IPOPHL’s work to achieve end-to-end online service began a decade ago, which shows the Office’s foresight for future disruptions, the Office became more aggressive in future-proofing its services when the pandemic hit.

“Our hard work has paid off as IPOPHL rose to be one of the trailblazers in government for continuing to provide quality service online in the middle of a lockdown,” Barba said.

“Today, we are ushering in a new era in patent administration characterized by complete digitalization from filing to issuance of certificates. With Patent eCerts, Letter Patents and Certificates of Registration for utility model (UM) or an industrial design (ID) will be issued in a faster, more convenient, efficient, less-costly and, in the context of the pandemic, a safer manner,” BOP Director Lolibeth R. Medrano said.

Also at the event were Dr. Lourdes Marie S. Tejero, director of the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office of the University of the Philippines, Manila, and Atty. Editha R. Hechanova, president of the Association of PAQE Professionals, to laud the eCert launch.

Through BOP Memorandum Circular 2022-001, Patent eCerts will be issued for all invention applications recommended for grant and UM and ID applications recommended for registrations starting March 1, 2022.  All applications that have been recommended for grant or registrations prior to March 1 will still receive the usual paper Certificate issued by IPOPHL.

Such certification is vital for an inventor or business as proof of ownership when pursuing commercialization, enforcing rights over a patent, UM or ID and gaining a competitive edge. The timely receipt of these certificates will ensure zero disruptions in schedules for various business or innovation-driven undertakings such as licensing, commercialization and patent mining, among others.

The timely issuance of eCerts will also allow the timely uploading of patent documents to the IPOPHL Patent Search and other search tools for the benefit of incoming patent filers or those surveying the patent landscape in search of a new innovation project.

Upon the BOP Director’s approval of a patent grant or registration and the payment of issuance and publication fees, the Patent eCert will be sent to applicants or agents through eCorrespondence –– IPOPHL’s online system for official correspondences between IPOPHL and applicants.

Each Patent eCert contains a Quick Response Code that verifies the authenticity of the Patent eCert when scanned and a link to the full text of the patent document it was issued for.

“For this patent e-cert milestone and what more the Bureau is striving for to increase its efficiency, I’m confident that BOP will maintain its esteem in the ASEAN and at the World Intellectual Property Organization as an advanced, timely and future-ready patent office,” Deputy Director General Nelson P. Laluces said.