AN OFFICIAL of the Intellectual Property Field Operation Unit (IP-FOU) in Davao City said another Davao-based firm has signified interest to be placed under Madrid Protocol, a treaty which provides international registration of trademarks over products in member countries worldwide.
In an interview on Friday, IP-FOU specialist Marie Lou Gabiana said Davao Citi Hardware Inc. has applied for Madrid Protocol, wherein Philippines is a member country, in order to get exclusive ownership of the trademarks on products they are shipping out to China.
Through the protocol, the companies can get international trademarks with single filing of trademark application right in the country where they are operating.
It can be recalled that this international intellectual property registration was rolled out in Davao City in July last year and has since been encouraging local entrepreneurs and exporters to register their products.
Under this treaty, Gabiana said a total of 86 countries act as member countries, but added the number is continuously growing as more countries are drawing interest to becoming treaty members.
Last year, Nader and Ebrahim S/O Hassan Philippines Incorporated., an exporter of Cavendish bananas from Davao Region, was the sole Davao-based firm that applied for Madrid Protocol.
She, however, added that the companies must have either pending trademark applications or registered trademarks in the country before they can re-apply for Madrid Protocol.
"Trademark is any visible sign capable of distinguishing goods or services," Gabiana added.
IPO Philippines has three field offices in Mindanao, which can accept Madrid Protocol applications from prospect firms in Davao City, General Santos City, and Cagayan de Oro City.
Meanwhile, Davao Pummelo Industry Council (DPIC), a group of pummelo growers in the city, is well on its way with its application for the Geographical Indication (GI), a new category under the intellectual property rights.
She said DPIC already drafted its code of practice, containing the common restrictions in agricultural practices, including packaging and processing facilities, in which all stakeholders must follow in order to sustain the quality of their products.
DPIC stakeholders drafted their code of practice in October 2011.
Gabiana added if the GI seal is issued to the council, its branding, for instance "Davao Pummelo", cannot anymore be copied by other regions, considering that GI gives product of every area a certain distinction in terms of quality.
Other prospect products viable for GI seal registration are Lake Sebu Tinalak, Dagupan Bangus, Lumban Barong, Barako Coffee, Guimaras Mangoes, Cebu Processed Dried Mangoes, Bicol Pili, and Aklan Piña Cloth.