Atty. Ricardo Blancaflor

Atty. Ricardo Blancaflor was appointed Director General of IPOPHL in March 2010. 

STRENGTHENING INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS WITH ITSOs

IPOPHL also launched its network of “patent libraries” called the Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSOs) that strengthened institutional and academic capacities to access patent information and use the patent system. 

Today, ITSO members stand at  77 with significant contributions in spurring local innovation and boosting the country’s rankings in the Global Innovation Index.

GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE PHILIPPINE IPs

Another milestone during Atty. Blancaflor’s time is the Philippines’ accession to the Madrid Protocol, an international filing system that facilitates the registration of marks in several countries through a single application at IPOPHL. This accession essentially made the country more globally competitive.  

IPOPHL embarked on yet a new initiative by exploring the role of the IP system in the protection of geographical indications to promote local products with high economic potential. 

Through his leadership, IPOPHL’s modernization program is best defined by the deployment of the WIPO-developed Industrial Property Automation System (IPAS). 

The adoption of IPAS is one of IPOPHL’s initiatives to ensure that quality and timely service is consistently provided. The Philippines is the first IP Office in Asia to use the latest version of IPAS.

ENFORCEMENT BREAKTHROUGH

In the area of enforcement, IPOPHL achieved a breakthrough under Atty. Blancaflor’s term. The Philippines was delisted from the Notorious Markets Watchlist in 2012 and most significantly, the Special 301 Watchlist of the Office of the United States Trade Representatives in 2014 after having been in the list for two decades. 

Under Atty. Blancaflor’s management, there was also a tremendous increase in seized counterfeit and pirated products through the efforts of the members of the NCIPR. Because of these and other noteworthy efforts, the Philippines was made Champion in IP Enforcement by the ASEAN.

LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

In 2013, IPOPHL was able to pass the law amending certain provisions of the IP Code. Known as Republic Act No. 10372, the law took effect in 2013 to create the Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights and vest IPOPHL with enforcement powers, among others.