Atty. Emma Francisco
Atty. Emma Francisco assumed office as the first woman director of the Bureau of Patents, Trademarks and Technology Transfer (BPTTT) on March 1, 1996. A year into her term, the BPTTT was abolished in accordance with the passage of Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines on June 6, 1997 to enhance innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in the Philippines.
LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS
Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property (IP) Code created the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. Thus,Atty. Francisco, was the last serving director of the BPTT and the first Director General of IPOPHL.
She laid the foundation to ensure the effective implementation of the IP Code by establishing IPOPHL’s organizational structure and conducting holistic nationwide consultations for the creation of the implementing rules and regulations and She also advocated the promotion of intellectual property in the whole country.
ALIGNING WITH GLOBAL STANDARDS
Atty. Francisco envisioned IPOPHL to be a leading IP office in the ASEAN region. Ultimately, the goal was for IPOPHL to align with global standards and be a globally competent IP office.
She ensured the consistent delivery of our international commitments, through our membership in pertinent IP groups in the ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.
In 2000, IPOPHL adopted a legislative agenda to enable the country’s compliance with the World Trade Organization’s agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
Guided by this goal, Atty. Francisco actively pursued cooperation with foreign counterparts and global institutions, harnessing their support to improve IPOPHL’s delivery of its services and enhance the capabilities of its most invaluable asset — human resource.
SPEEDING UP MODERNIZATION
Building on her ICT go als as former BPTT Director, Atty. Francisco launched and enhanced the IPOPHL website, which provided the public access to patent and trademark databases on the internet and facilitated online filing of applications for trademarks.
The Phil-Pat CD Rom Project of 1993, which converts full text copies of PH issued patents, gained headway under Atty. Francisco's term with greater conversions made. Her efforts extended in the ASEAN PAT-CD-ROM where IPOPHL contributed the first ever set of data on invention, UM and design patents.
She also worked with international partners to take on cooperation agreements on modernizing IP administration.
At the end of her seven year-term, Atty. Francisco has succeeded in laying the foundations for IPOPHL, going above and beyond what is expected of a new office.
