THE Intellectual Property Satellite Office (IPSO)-Cebu recently opened at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Visayas Office to cater to entrepreneurs and IP generators in the Visayas who want to protect their intellectual creations for business benefits.

In cooperation with DTI, the IPSO Project is part of IP Philippines’ strategic move to promote intellectual property, such as patent or invention, utility model, industrial design, trademark and copyright as a strategic tool for business success.

But the IPSO in Cebu will only accept applications for trademarks and patents, including utility models and industrial designs, IP Philippines’ IPSO Area Manager for Visayas Cecilio M. Fernandez said.

Fernandez explained that his office’s initial assessment of the response of businessmen in the Visayas towards the project indicated a positive feedback as reflected in the increasing trend of IP filings in the region.

Processing time

But all IP documents will still be processed at the IP Philippines Head Office in Manila.

The processing time for trademarks will take four to six months if all requirements are met; while that of patents will take an average of about four and a half years which is good enough based on the IP office’s international standards, Fernandez said.

Utility models and industrial designs will taken an average of about nine months, he added.

Fernandez said the primary goals of the IPSO Project are to bring IP Philippines’ services to the countryside and to build an IP-inspired culture of innovation and creativity that will bring about countryside and national development.

More offices

After the launching of the Cebu and Davao IP satellite offices, IP Philippines will also launch satellite offices in Luzon,
where the bulk of applicants are also based.

To encourage entrepreneurs’ adherence to IP creation, IP Philippines has provided them with seminar workshops, promotional information campaign, partnership and networking collaboration and commercialization assistance.

Recently, IP Philippines conducted a seminar on strategic management and use of Intellectual Property Rights for small and medium-sized enterprises in Cebu City.

Experts from the World Intellectual Property Organization, the European Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office provided the expertise and experience.

During a break in the seminar, the Cebu Gifts, Toys and Housewares; Cebu Fashion Accessories, Manufacturers and Exporters; Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Cebu Furniture Industry Foundation and Association of Negros Producers signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IP Philippines in support of intellectual property rights and the IPSO project. (PR)

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(December 6, 2008 issue)
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