Gov’t extends waiver of MSME trademark application fee

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Intellectual Property of the Philippines (IPOPHL) are extending the implementation of a program which waives the trademark application fees of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) until February next year as a form of support to the sector.

In a statement the DTI said the program called Juana Make a Mark which waives the trademark application fees of 1,000 MSMEs, is being extended following the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the IPOPHL during the MSME Summit held in Clark in Pampanga last July 10.

The program, launched by the IPOPHL last year to cover 1,000 trademarks to be registered within a period of one year, expired last Feb. 14.

Through the MOA, the program is being extended until February next year or until all applications have been availed.

Under the program, MSMEs can save up to P3,000 from waived basic filing, color claims, and first publication fees.

“Juana Make a Mark is part of our strategy to help the MSMEs be part of the local supply chain and eventually venture out to the global market,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

For her part, IPOPHL director general Josephine Santiago said “the success of the first round of the program shows MSMEs are realizing the significance of trademarks, and give them an edge in marketing their products.”

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

To quality for the Juana Make a Mark program, the MSME must be engaged in business activities considered priority sectors by the DTI and IPOPHL.

Priority sectors which have been identified by the DTI and IPOPHL are: agribusiness or food and resource-based processing; aerospace parts; automotive and auto spare parts; chemicals; electronic manufacturing and semiconductor manufacturing services; construction; design-oriented furniture and garments; shipbuilding (roll-on roll-off and small or medium-sized vessels); information technology and business process management; tool and die; tourism; and transport and logistics.

In addition to being involved in priority sectors, MSMEs interested in the program should be located in areas prone to natural disasters or facing social and economic challenges; have business names registered with DTI; have two unregistered marks at most used on goods and services; have no more than five employees; and be in business for at least one year with limited finan- cial capability.

To apply for the program, MSMEs will need to complete and submit the Trademark Registration Incentive Package for Waiver of Fees and Trademark Application Forms along with required attachments to any DTI business office.

The MSMEs would also need to secure endorsement of application from the DTI to IPOPHL and submit the application to the Intellectual Property Satellite Officer.

As of the first quarter, a total of 8,400 applications for trademarks were filed with the IPOPHL.