Intellectual property applications in Central Luzon reach 307 in 2018
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— Applications for registration of intellectual property rights (IPR) lodged with the local Intellectual Property Office (IPO) satellite desk at the Department of Trade and industry (DTI) Regional Office III have risen significantly.
Based on the report of the local IPO office, there were 307 applications for patent, trademark, copyright, utility model and other forms of IPR registrations from different provinces in the region. In 2017, there were 178 applications made with the IPO satellite office in Central Luzon.
Registrants from the
— CDC-CD Photo province of Pampanga made the bulk of applications with 174, while applicants from Bulacan totalled 58. There were also 25 IPR applications from Tarlac, 22 from Bataan, 18 from Nueva Ecija, seven from Aurora, and one from Zambales.
Of the 307 IPR applications processed by the local IPO office, 115 were part of the “Juana Make a Mark”program of DTI, where women entrepreneurs are assisted by the agency to register the intellectual property associated with their products at discounted rates. For Central Luzon, majority of the applications are for trade names or brands, product designs, product labels and label colors.
Micro small and medium enterprises are encouraged to register their trademarks and IPRs with the Intellectual Property Office to ensure their legal rights to use the marks or symbols associated with their products. Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code outlines the rights to trademarks, patents, industrial designs, service marks, copyrights and utility models. The Act also sets rules on the use of these marks and penalizes infringement of the legal rights of IPR holders.
percentage point starting on the year of implementation until it reaches 15 percent in 2025, and the gradual adjustment of the minimum and maximum monthly salary credit.
Further, under the revised SS Law, members will enjoy an additional benefit from the current
six types with the introduction of unemployment insurance. Covered qualified employed individuals who may suffer from involuntary separation from work, will be protected from a sudden loss of income as the law has a provision for unemployment insurance.
“Under the law, displaced workers will get financial assistance from SSS in the form of cash equivalent to half of their average monthly salary credit for two months,” Dooc said.
At present, SSS members are covered with sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, funeral, and death/ survivor benefits.
The law also provides protection for the growing number of Filipinos working abroad as it made social security coverage of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) mandatory.
“Filipinos who work outside the country are more prone to risks as they are engaged in unfamiliar environment while they are trying to earn for their family. Our goal here is to ensure that all OFWs will be protected under the SSS,” Dooc said.
Gordon, the principal author and sponsor of the law, said that the new law emphasizes the value of work, save, invest and prosper among its members.
“The bill does not promise an abundance of wealth but to secure people in case they would encounter unwanted situations in their lives through a lifeline that they themselves created through their contribution,” Gordon said.
Further, the newly-signed law also lowered the penalty rate for late payment of contributions to 2 percent from the current 3 percent, and condonation of penalties will no longer require Malacañang’s approval under the law.
The new law now awaits for the Implementing Rules and Regulations after its publication in the Official Gazette last Monday.
(Press Release)