The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is seeing early signs of recovery for intellectual property (IP) rights protection after booking 21-percent growth in filings during the first four months.
In a news statement issued on Wednesday, the IP agency reported that IP filings grew to 15,028 from January to April from 12,409 in the comparable period last year.
IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said the improvement in IP applications could mean “a more positive outlook among businesses and innovation players on the country’s pace of recovery from the pandemic.”
“It could also signify that businesses are rebuilding stronger by integrating IP protection in their innovation and branding strategies,” he added.
Utility model (UM) filings drove the growth in IP filings, rising by 33 percent to 420 from 315 year-on-year. Resident filers submitted 401 applications, which showed 38 percent improvement.
Most of the UM filings were from the food chemistry field, followed by basic materials chemistry, other special machines, handling and information technology methods for management.
Trademark applications increased by 26 percent to 13,041 from 10,354 in the previous year. Resident filings contributed 8,089, which marked 48-percent year-on-year growth.
The top sectors for trademark applications came from pharmaceuticals, health, cosmetics (3,939); agricultural products and services (3,546); scientific research, information and communication technology (2,848); management, communications, real estate and financial services (2,419); and textiles, clothing and accessories (1,914).
Patent filings fell by 6 percent to 1,235 from 1,320 as non-resident filings dipped by 31 percent. Most patents filed during period were from the fields of pharmaceuticals (543); organic fine chemistry (311); biotechnology (154); basic materials chemistry (115); and food chemistry (63).
With fewer resident and non-resident applications, filings for industrial designs dropped by 21 percent to 332 from 420. These were usually filed for furnishing (16); articles of adornment (8); other machines (7); fluid distribution equipment, sanitary, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment, solid fuel (6); other household goods (6); and packages and containers for the transport or handling of goods (6).
Copyright deposits improved by 91 percent to 444 from 233 year-on-year, IPOPHL added.
IPOPHL aims to return to the pre-pandemic level of IP applications this year, banking on filings from micro, small and medium enterprises.
Last year, IP applications went down, which Barba attributed to prolonged locked down measures not only in Metro Manila but in other major areas as well. Trademark applications fell by 10 percent to 35,724 while patents shrunk by 9 percent to 3,648. Utility models filings plunged by 45 percent to 1,235; industrial design, 23 percent, 1,259; copyright, 44 percent, 940.