IPOPHL now an int’l searching, examining authority

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has started operating as an international searching authority (ISA) and international preliminary examining authority (IPEA) by conducting search and preliminary examination of international applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

“This significant milestone is part of IPOPHL’s effort in building a culture of innovation and creativity. With our expanded service, we’re confident that this will facilitate the entry of Filipino inventions to the global patent system. Given IPOPHL’s competence in search and examination, we are assured of quality patents that have undergone our scrutiny,” IPOPHL director general Josephine Santiago said.

Considering the limited resources of Filipino inventors and higher educational institutions, she said the agency is waiving search and preliminary examining fees for the first 100 applicants which choose IPOPHL as the ISA or IPEA.

Fees will be waived through the PCT Filing Assistance Program to be implemented by the Bureau of Patents (BOP).

Search fees are at $1,000 for big entity and $400 for smaller ones.

Preliminary examination fees, meanwhile, are at $500 for big companies and $200 for small entities.

Apart from individual Filipino inventors and higher educational institutions part of IPOPHL’s Innovation and Technology Support Office network, foreign applicants from states included in the WIPO’s list of eligible nationals or residents can avail of the waiver program for 90 percent reduction in certain PCT fees.

The program will be in effect from May 20 until Dec. 31 this year or after 100 requests for ISRs have been filed, whichever comes first.

University of the Philippines (UP) Manila was the first to take advantage of IPOPHL’s strengthened capacity as an ISA or IPEA as it officially filed a request for an international search report (ISR) for its PCT invention application on Monday.

“As a Filipino inventor, having an in-country ISA or IPEA closer in proximity and allowing quicker personal communication goes a long way in facilitating international applications. We have a better chance for our inventions to ‘go global’ and be shared with the world,” Jose Nevado Jr., member of UP Manila technology transfer and business development office (UPTTBDO) said.

“For UP Manila, this is a landmark moment. This is the first international application for a patent that our technology transfer office has filed. UP has always been a trailblazer and with this move, we’re living up to that,” UPTTBDO director Lourdes Tejero said.

In October last year, the IPOPHL became the second international authority in Southeast Asia and 23rd in the world given the designation by the PCT Union.

The PCT facilitates the international filing of patent applications from a member country seeking protection in some or all the 152 member states.

To file an application under the PCT system, an applicant will have to choose an ISA or IPEA to conduct the search and preliminary examination.

After the application is made, the designated authority would issue an ISR which would provide details on existing inventions or research that may affect the originality of invention’s claim, and establish the first opinion on novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability of the claimed invention.

With the designation, the IPOPHL hopes to encourage more Filipino inventors to seek international protection of their inventions.

“We will reach out to universities, research and funding institutions as well as inventors to encourage them to leverage on our expanded service, and reap the benefits of their work recognized and protected abroad,” BOP director Lolibeth Medrano said.