First PHregistered IC layout design pushed

The Intellectual Property of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has challenged players of the local electronics industry to file before the office the first layout design for an integrated circuit (IC), emphasizing how the use of the intellectual property (IP) system will help the industry meet its target of becoming a $50-billion exporter in 2030.

IPOPHL Director General Josephine R. Santiago posed the challenge to the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippine Foundations Inc. (SEIPI), noting that the law protecting such IP asset had been approved as early as in 2001.

Republic Act 9150 or the “Industrial Design and Layout Designs (Topographies) of Integrated Circuits” laid down the standards and procedural rules to protect industrial designs (IDs) and IC layout designs. It also set out the exclusive rights that can be enjoyed by the design owner, as well as the limits to these rights.

Santiago said the motivation behind the passage of the said law shares SEIPI’s objectives in making the contributions of the country’s electronics industry more impactful on global value chains.

"We would very much want to collaborate with the semiconductor industry to enable them to achieve their goal of transitioning to higher value-adding activities, which would be made possible only if they have relevant inventions, innovations and IC layout designs that are protected under the IP system," DG Santiago said. IPOPHL and SEIPI are currently working on holding a workshop, eyed to be conducted before the end of the year.

At the workshop, IPOPHL will give SEIPI members guidance on how they can take advantage of the IP system, particularly for the protection of their layout designs for ICs. At present, electronics firms operating in the country only specialize in assembly, testing, packaging, and outbound distribution of goods.

Nonetheless, the electronics industry has increased its utilization of the IP system over the past few years.