IPOPHL bares new lobby plan to ‘modernize’ IP Code of 1997

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said it will renew its lobby effort to amend the Intellectual Property (IP) Code of 1997, which will help the country keep pace with global legal and technological developments while boosting its attractiveness for tech businesses.

“Modern IP laws and efforts could be a point of attraction for foreign start-ups and big tech companies to set up shop in a country,” said IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba in a news statement issued on Wednesday.

The IPOPHL chief stressed that the IP Code amendments are also seen to expand Filipinos’ own IP asset portfolios.

The enhancements that they are pushing for will enable flexible protection mechanisms that will encourage greater commercialization of inventions.

For instance, protective forms of trademarks will be expanded to create more tools for competitiveness, while IPOPHL establishes clearer provisions on copyright and aims to provide ease in doing business among artists.

The IP Code was passed into law in June 1997. It was last amended in 2013 to grant IPOPHL enforcement powers and strengthen copyright protection, among others.

During the IP Code’s 25th anniversar y commemoration last month, Barba said that they would intensify work in lobbying with legislators as they hope to see the realization of a new IP Code in the next Congress, as the new IP Code provisions that they will push for will make the country more competitive and attractive to foreign investors.

Meanwhile, Barba said IPOPHL will also intensify its efforts to help the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMES) recover and more homegrown names to scale up in global markets as this is aligned with Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual’s vision.

“In aligning with Secretary Pascual’s vision, we will equip more MSMES with the sufficient knowledge and capacity to develop their IP protection strategies,” said Barba.

The IPOPHL chief added that entrepreneurs, local businesses, start-ups, innovators and artists must turn to IP in building competitiveness and resilience in a knowledge economy.

“The borderless digital world is also a bright spot for recovery, with opportunities for local high-value brands, innovative IP products and creative outputs to become a profound part of global supply chains,” said Barba.

Apart from free IP webinars, IPOPHL also boasts of a pool of programs designed for MSMES and independent inventors and artists. Among them are the Juana Make a Mark, Juana Patent and Juana Design Protection Incentive Program, Juan for the World, Patent Cooperation Treaty Inventor Assistance Program and Copyright Plus Program.

Barba also extended his support to the new Trade chief as one of his priorities is boosting local and foreign investments in the technology space.

The IPOPHL chief highlighted that the Philippines’s status as an “innovation achiever” in the Global Innovation Index, where it ranks as the 51st most innovative out of 132 economies, is also seen to lure innovation-based investments.

“IPOPHL extends its full support in advancing the new secretary’s goal of enabling innovation. There is already growing recognition of our country as a champion of IP protection and enforcement, both in the region and the world,” said Barba. He added that the IPOPHL would continue to build on this “positive reputation.”

By being an innovation achiever, Barba stressed, a country signifies its ability to generate relatively high innovative and creative products despite having scarce resources.

“As a member of the National Innovation Council [NIC], IPOPHL is steadfast in its commitment to work closely with fellow NIC members and help close the gaps that stifle the full transformation of our innovation and creative industries,” said the IPOPHL chief.

Barba also cited fiscal and nonfiscal perks waiting for projects that will commercialize “uncommercialized” patents and derive from Innovation and Technology Support Offices—patent libraries that provide training on patent search and drafting.

The patent-generating activities are covered under the Board of Investments’ current Investment Priorities Plan, which aims to modernize the Philippine economy and create high-value jobs.