IP rights applications rise 13% in Q1

MANILA, Philippines — Applications for intellectual property (IP) rights received by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) rose 13 percent in the first quarter from a year ago, reflecting the growing trend in innovation in the country.

In a statement yesterday, IPOPHL said applications for patents and trademarks reached 11,327 in January to March this year, up from the 10,031 filings received in the same period last year.

Applications for patents cover inventions, utility models and industrial designs.

IPOPHL said the expansion of satellite offices, as well as implementation of a program to encourage filing for trademarks, helped drive the increase in applications.

“This growth is the product of our expansion of satellite offices last year, launching three in 2018,” IPOPHL said.

IPOPHL said its Bureau of Trademarks also implemented a trademark incentive program.

“In broader terms, our continued information, awareness, and capacity-building programs (especially for research and development institutions and universities) for IP holders stoked this demand,” IPOPHL said.

Higher IP filings reflect an increase in the country’s innovative capacity as more individuals demand protection for new technology and inventions.

In addition, higher IP applications show increasing business activity with enterprises demanding protection of trademarks.

Trademarks are beneficial for businesses in terms of establishing brand recognition.

Last year, IPOPHL received 44,461 IP filings, 15 percent higher than the 38,801 applications in 2017.