Applications for IP up 11% in H1

MANILA, Philippines — Applications for Intellectual Property (IP) received by the IP Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) went up by 11 percent in the first semester from a year ago, showing growing innovation and awareness on the need to protect IP.

In a statement, the IPOPHL said IP filings for trademarks, inventions, utility models and industrial designs reached 22,952 in the January to June period, higher than the 20,628 applications in the same period last year. 

Applications for trademarks, in particular, reached 18,964, an 11 percent growth year-on-year.

A trademark is a word or a group of words, sign, symbol, logo or a combination thereof which identifies and differentiates the source of the goods or services of one entity from others. 

Filings for patent or the exclusive right for an invention applied to a product, process or an improvement of a product or process, meanwhile, rose four percent year-on-year to 1,991 as of the first semester.

Applications for utility models or minor patents totaled 1,173 in the first-half, 31 percent higher year-on-year.

As for industrial design or those referring to ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article, filings reached 824, a 14 percent increase year-on-year.

IPOPHL director general Josephine Santiago said the agency saw increased filings as it is reaping benefits of programs and efforts to promote IP.

IPOPHL has been implementing education and awareness campaigns to promote IP.

In addition, the agency has capacity-building programs for the Innovation and Technology Support Offices which actively file inventions and utility models.

Also contributing to the higher IP filings is the extension of the Juana program which waives fees for micro, small and medium enterprises making IP filings.

“These figures reflect the success of our continuing efforts at the IPOPHL. With a widened and deepened understanding of IP, society is now appreciating the IP system more than ever,” Santiago said. 

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