Fees waived for women-led ventures’ patent applications

MANILA, Philippines — The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) have teamed up for the implementation of a program that would waive fees for patent applications of women-led micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

A memorandum of understanding was signed by IPOPHL director general Rowel Barba and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez for the Juana Patent and Juana Design Protection Incentive Program Wednesday.

Ann Edillon, head of the IPOPHL Enforcement Office, said the program would waive fees for the filing of invention, utility model and industrial design.

It will also waive the first publication fee and substantive examination fee for invention.

She said the program would start on April 15 and run until April 30, 2023 or until 50 inventions, 150 utility models and 150 industrial design applications have been qualified and filed.

To be eligible for the program, the MSME must be woman-led and engaged in business for at least one year.

In addition, the applicant must be engaged in a business activity considered part of the priority sectors by the DTI or by IPOPHL; registered with the DTI, Securities and Exchange Commission or Cooperative Development Agency; have total assets not over P100 million; and have a maximum of 20 employees.

The program is open only to those yet to avail of funding under Republic Act 7459 or the Philippine Inventors and Inventions Incentive Act.

Barba said the new program is the latest initiative of the IPOPHL to help MSMEs in IP registration.

In 2017, the IPOPHL launched the Juana Make a Mark Program which enables women-led MSMEs to register their trademarks and make them more competitive.

Last October, the IPOPHL unveiled the Juan for the World Program which supports MSMEs in filing for international trademark protection under the Madrid Protocol.

Barba said the new program is in line with IPOPHL’s commitment to help MSMEs, especially women entrepreneurs, utilize the IP system to grow their business.

“By maximizing the benefits of their IPs, our MSMEs can contribute to sustaining our country’s economic recovery from the pandemic and beyond. This in turn will lead to greater inclusive growth and shared prosperity to create a bright future to our people,” he said.

For his part, Lopez said the program is timely given the observance of women’s month.

“With the Juana Patent and Juana Design Protection Incentive Program, we hope to see more women entrepreneurs coming up with their own inventions and new product models,” he said.