SAN DIEGO, California — The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has signed a cooperation agreement with the global organization of trademark owners and legal advisors, the International Trademark Association (INTA).
Signed on the sidelines of the 137th INTA Annual Meeting in San Diego, California, the cooperation agreement establishes a framework for broader cooperation between the two parties in the areas of promotion, protection and enforcement of trademarks, research and information, and capacity-building.
It also strengthens the link between the government and the private sector as INTA represents the world?s top global brands.
?The Philippines is playing an increasingly important role in the regional and global economy,? said INTA president J. Scott Evans.
?This MOU will help us to provide greater support to Philippine brands owners and IP practitioners so that they can effectively protect and grow their trademark portfolios. We also look forward to developing educational programs for the Philippine public to help us demonstrate the importance of trademark protection and the key role that trademarks plays in their national economy.?
On his part, Gepty stressed that ?Other than having a robust economy, Philippines is now entering a demographic and middle income sweet spot, thus, making it a huge market for global brands.
?With the accession of the Philippines to the Madrid Protocol, trademark owners can now take advantage of the system in protecting their trademarks, and with the present cooperation with INTA they can expect a new platform of ensuring enforcement of their trademarks.?
Philippines is now an emerging force in the global retail market. The increased trade of branded goods has resulted in demand for a more strategic and sophisticated enforcement efforts against trademark infringements both for the physical and online market.
The first big cooperation project planned for this year by the IPOPHL and INTA is the Regional Training for ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Customs Officials in October on best practices on border control measures.
