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Saturday, July 29, 2006
Most RP univs. do not have IPR strategy- study
Most universities in the Philippines, except for a few, need to raise awareness on the importance of intellectual property rights (IPR).
This is one of the findings of a study presented by lawyer Josephine R. Santiago of S.A. Santiago & Santiago Law Offices in a forum on IPR last month.
The law firm conducted a study on university-based research and development and IPR policies of academic institutions from 1998 to 2003.
The study pointed out that there was “predominant” lack of intellectual policy on the protection of IPR in different universities in the country.
It said there was no clear policy on commercialization of research work, in relation to intellectual property.
Not surpising
Since most universities did not have an IP policy, it was not surprising that many did not have an office to handle such concerns.
Santiago said the study also found that the lack of awareness and understanding by constituents—students and faculty—of the university.
She said several university researchers preferred to publish the results of their work first before applying for patent.
It did not help that the Commission on Higher Education did not have a clear model for IP policy guidelines during the time the study was conducted, she said.
Other findings of the study were: patent information is not utilized and so-called “patent research” is actually a market research rather than search for prior art in the IP database.
The study also said the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in the Philippines did not have sufficient data on the names of patent applicants.
Comprehensive
Nevertheless, the study found case studies, which resulted in the filing of patent application.
Santiago said the University of the Philippines (UP) system has the most comprehensive and extensive IP policy.
The state university constitutes about 90 to 95 percent of total researches in science and technology in the country.
To address these issues, the study said the needs and challenges in the teaching of IP must be met, such as organizing competent teachers, inclusion of IP in the curriculum and the establishment of an IP center with the support of the IPO.
Santiago stressed that the study was intended to call on universities and researchers to consider utilizing their research and development as “capacity-building measures to help sustain projects where funds for researches are perennially limited and insufficient.”
Through the IP system, Santiago hopes that universities will “create, innovate and utilize its intangible assets, particularly on where the IP system is made accessible, useful, attractive, and beneficial to the academe and the society.” (MMM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 29, 2006 issue)
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