IPOPHL Partners with WIPO for a National Survey on IP Awareness

July 23, 2020

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue a first-of-its-kind nationwide survey that will measure the level of intellectual property (IP) awareness in the Philippines.

The MoU, signed in June 2020 by IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba and WIPO DG Francis Gurry, specifically aims to create a baseline survey that will gauge the public’s general perception on the effects of counterfeiting, piracy and other infringing acts to rights holders, consumers and the local industry.

Under the agreement, WIPO will contribute at least P2 million for the implementation of the survey. 

For its part, IPOPHL will conduct the bid for the selection of a service provider who will conduct the survey; ensure that respondent-samples are as broad and representative of the national population as could be; and supplement interview questions that will best capture relevant sentiments of local respondents on IP.

The survey will use the “WIPO Consumer Survey Toolkit on Respect for IP” which provides guidance and questionnaires for governments and private companies seeking to assess the level of IP awareness of a group of interest.

The tool can help identify key trends in consumption of infringing goods and services; evaluate strategies for building respect for IP; assess marketing campaign effectiveness; and establish measures for inter-territorial comparison.

“With this nationwide survey, IPOPHL will be able to improve its IP awareness strategy and the approach will be based on the findings of this survey. We will also be able to identify priority areas and make the most out of our resources. This will enable us to detect the gaps in our current programs and address them accordingly,” IPOPHL Deputy Director General Nelson P. Laluces said. 

IPOPHL and WIPO have yet to agree on the specific work schedules but are initially looking at 2021 for the release of the landmark survey. ### (Janina Lim, Media Relations Officer)