Expanded IP cooperation signed

The Philippines and Mexico signed a new and expanded intellectual property (IP) cooperation agreement that aims to assist in growing trade and transfer of innovation between the two countries.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation-IP Rights Experts’ Group (APEC-IPEG) meeting in Cebu City where the Philippines is the host country and Mexico is the Chair of the APEC-IPEG meeting. Over 40 IP experts and policy makers are attending the APECIPEG meeting in Cebu City, the second meeting hosted by the Philippines this year.

“With the Mexico delegation present, in full force, here in Cebu City, we took this rare opportunity to finalize an expanded IP agreement. The Philippines has so many things in common with Mexico. We both were former colonies of Spain and are now emerging as economic powerhouses in our respective regions. This agreement ensures stronger cooperation in IP which is a critical area in the promotion of innovation, trade and investment,” said Atty. Allan B. Gepty, Deputy Director General/OIC DG of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

The agreement builds on the technical collaboration agreement signed by the Philippines and Mexico in September 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland. Under the agreement, the IPOPHL and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) vowed to work together to promote innovation, creativity and technological advancement. The two IP offices agreed to cooperate to ensure the proper administration, protection, use and enforcement of industrial property rights such as invention patents, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks and geographical indications.