PH elected as vice-chair of WIPO’s PCT Working Group

February 13, 2023

Bureau of Patents Director Atty. Ann Edillon of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) was recently elected as vice-chair for the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Working Group of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The election was held 07 February 2023 during the opening of the 16th Session of the PCT Working Group held in Geneva as a hybrid event.

The PCT Working Group leads the preparation of agenda and documents to be elevated to the PCT Union Assembly, which is the primary decision and policy-making body at WIPO for enhancing the PCT System.

With 157 contracting countries, the PCT assists applicants in seeking patent protection internationally for their inventions, helps patent offices with their patent granting decisions and facilitates public access to a wealth of technical information relating to those inventions.

Director Edillon was endorsed by IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba, Consul General of the Philippine Permanent Mission of Geneva Felipe F. Cariño III, and Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations First Secretary in Intellectual Property (IP) Affairs Otto Gani, who is also the current Asia-Pacific Group Coordinator of WIPO.

As the Director of BOP, Edillon leads the operations, decision-making and recommendations for policy reforms on patents, utility models, industrial designs and IPOPHL’s obligations under the PCT.  

She is also the head of the IPOPHL Working Group on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions, and the current Chair for the ASEAN Industrial Design Task Force. Prior to serving as director, she was the assistant director of the BOP and an IP lawyer with more than 10 years of experience in patent prosecution, patent drafting, patent litigation and enforcement.

“Considering her role in IPOPHL and extensive knowledge of the PCT system, Edillon is equipped to take on the role of vice-chair. Her skills and experience in presiding similar sessions in a regional setting will be useful in supporting the chair of the PCT Working Group in leading further advancements to the PCT,” Barba said.