IPOPHL guides HEIs in drafting IP policy

August 17, 2021

In a bid to equip private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in the Philippines to develop their own intellectual property (IP) policy, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has been holding the “Webinar on Intellectual Property (IP): IP System and IP Policy Development Workshop” for select PHEIs.

The webinar was offered to PHEIs with Level III and Level IV accreditation status, which means they meet the higher standards of educational excellence set by the Commission on Higher Education. 

Completely free of charge, the webinar was conducted by IPOPHL in two rounds. The first round, which ran for four days from May 3 to 6, 2021, was participated in by 13 Level IV PHEIs and one research and development institute, namely: 

    1. Baliuag University;
    2. Capitol University;
    3. Central Philippine University;
    4. John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod;
    5. John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University;
    6. Liceo de Cagayan University;
    7. Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas;
    8. Northwestern University;
    9. Our Lady of Fatima University;
    10. University of Baguio;
    11. University of Batangas;
    12. University of Perpetual Help System Dalta;
    13. University of Perpetual Help System Laguna; and
    14. National Museum of the Philippines.

PHEI participants to IPOPHL’s IP System and IP Policy Development Workshop on May 3-6, 2021.

The second round ran for five days from July 26 to 30, 2021 with the participation of nine PHEIs—a combination of Level III and Level IV accreditation status—namely: 

  1. Ateneo de Naga University;
  2. Cebu Doctors’ University;
  3. Filamer Christian University;
  4. Lorma Colleges;
  5. Saint Michael’s College of Laguna;
  6. Trinity University of Asia;
  7. University of Luzon;
  8. University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao; and
  9. Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.

On the first day of the webinar, IPOPHL walked the participating institutions through the fundamentals of the IP system, helping them understand the unfamiliar concepts to enforcing IP rights. 

IPOPHL guided the PHEIs on how they could take advantage of the benefits of the IP system across the IP value chain: from creation and protection to utilization. 

Various PHEIs at IPOPHL’s IP System and IP Policy Development Workshop last July 2021.

The second day of the webinar, IPOPHL extensively discussed specific contents needed in an IP policy and how they can align its legal framework with relevant national laws. 

The webinar highlighted the need for PHEIs to have a sound, cohesive and equitable IP Policy for developing successful commercialization strategies and for enabling a culture of creativity and innovation. 

To make the whole drafting process easier for the PHEIs, IPOPHL provided them with an IP Policy content guide; an IP Policy checklist; and an IP Policy sample. IPOPHL required each of the PHEIs to submit to the Office a polished draft of their IP policy, incorporating relevant inputs gained from the learning event.

A team from IPOPHL’s IP Management and Technology Transfer Division, under the Documentation, Information, Technology Transfer Bureau, designed and spearheaded the conduct of the webinar.

The effort is in line with the IP Code’s provision mandating all schools in the Philippines to adopt an IP Policy. 

Section 230 reads: Schools and universities shall adopt intellectual property policies that would govern the use and creation of intellectual property with the purpose of safeguarding the intellectual creations of the learning institution and its employees…”