IPOPHL opens 25th anniversary with focus on sustaining economic recovery with IP

February 28, 2022

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has officially opened what will be a year-long celebration of its 25th year anniversary with the theme “Creating a Silver BRIGHT Year” to sustain Philippine recovery with IP in 2022.

IPOPHL was established pursuant to Republic Act 8293 or the IP Code which was signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos on June 6, 1997. 

“As we celebrate our silver anniversary, we hope to create more impact in 2022 and sustain the country’s recovery from the pandemic and the economic challenges it has presented,” Director General Rowel S. Barba said in a press conference IPOPHL held last Feb. 24.

“Ultimately, we hope our work translates into significant strides in realizing our long term vision: that is to see a progressive Philippines that uses intellectual property assets for inclusive economic and social development,” he added. 

The IPOPHL chief also looked back at the agency’s achievements in 2021, such as the recovery of IP filings which saw a record contraction in the first year of the pandemic. 

IP filings increased 12% year-on-year to 46,503 thanks to IPOPHL’s intensified digitalization, which eased its filing process and made its services accessible to more people, and its work to promote IP creation and protection through webinars and online workshops. 

He also cited its major MSME efforts such as the launch of the Juan for the World Program and the extension of the Juana Make a Mark Program and the Patent Cooperation Treaty Program. 

For the creative sector, IPOPHL held the Philippine International Copyright Summit which garnered a whopping 2.5 million viewer audience who gained deeper knowledge on copyright and related rights. The Philippines also acceded to the Beijing Treaty of Audiovisual Performances to strengthen the protection of performers’ works overseas. 

In furthering innovation, DG Barba, as member of the Board of Investments, also succeeded in the push to include the generation of patented technologies and  commercialization of uncommercialized patents as projects benefiting from incentives under the 2020 Investment Priorities Plan.

Universities, colleges and research centers that are partners of IPOPHL under the Innovation and Technology Support Office Program can also qualify for the incentives. 

“Our greater efforts to serve the MSMES, the independent inventors and creators, startups and underrepresented sectors in the knowledge economy show our transformation from an agency that merely registers and grants IP to a development-driven agency that aims to see everyone benefit from the IP system,” Barba added. 

For his part, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez expressed his full support for IPOPHL in helping the country rebuild stronger with IP. 

“DTI fully supports IPOPHL, our attached agency, in its drive in protecting and promoting our nation’s IP—especially as this would make for smarter, successful entrepreneurs and businesses. Through IP, we can expect our MSMEs to bring about greater inclusive growth and shared prosperity for all,” Lopez said at the press conference. 

Greater challenges ahead with enforcement 

Meanwhile, Barba recognized the new and continuing challenges of right holders in maximizing the economic potential of their IP rights, especially in a digital economy, and commited to take steps in addressing these challenges in 2022. 

Barba revealed that its IP Rights Enforcement Office (IEO) received a record-high of 152 counterfeiting and piracy complaints from right holders and reports from citizens. 

“This surpasses the previous record of 121 complaints and reports received in 2020 when we saw a boom in e-commerce amid the pandemic. This record complaints and reports could signify increased awareness of our IEO as an effective channel for reporting and filing complaints on IP violations,” Barba added. 

Of the 152 reports and complaints received last year, 76% were of counterfeit goods and the remaining 24% were of pirated content. 

The 13-member National Committee on IP Rights or NCIPR, which IPOPHL leads as acting chair, also registered a record-high with P24.9 billion worth of counterfeit goods seized from its inspection and raid operations last year. This surpasses the P23.6 billion worth of counterfeit goods in 2018.

“We attribute our record seizure to increased efforts and better strategy of our NCIPR members. We will continue to intensify our enforcement efforts, from our borders to our online markets,” Barba said. 

The agency will also push to implement this year a rolling site-blocking regime that will effectively block access to IP infringing sites. 

“We have been working hard for this, exactly why we have been recognized by the Motion Picture Association as a Government Leader for Site Blocking in Asia Pacific,” said Barba. 

Barba added that the agency will be strengthening its legal services and alternative dispute resolution services for a faster settlement of IP cases. In 2021, IPOPHL improved its caseload reduction, with the disposal of its inter partes cases and IP violation cases higher by 23% and 106% year-on-year, respectively. 

Barba invited the media and the general public to support IPOPHL’s anniversary celebration by taking part in its 2022 events and activities aimed at helping more people understand and appreciate IP. 

The latest updates on events, activities and programs are posted on IPOPHL’s pages and accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.