The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) have agreed to forge closer cooperation in the field of intellectual property.
During the 5th Asean-JPO Heads of IP Offices meeting held from May 25 to 26, the IPOPHL and JPO signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to work further on capacity-building programs for patent examiners; exchange of patent examiners on emerging technologies; study visit; commercialization of intellectual property; and university linkages.
The agreement also covers other areas such as enforcement; Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR); IP education; and exchange of IP data.
?The agreement with JPO is another welcome development in strengthening the IP regime in the country, particularly in the field of patents. Japan as an economic powerhouse and known for its robust industries would be a good partner not only in building capacity for our IP office but in promoting the country as an investment destination in the region,? said Allan B. Gepty, deputy director general and OIC of IPOPHL.
At present, IPOPHL has more than 80 universities and research and development institutions (RDIs) in its innovation network. The universities and RDIs have been generating patents in various industrial fields.
With the partnership, the two agencies are hoping that Japanese companies can work with the universities with the end view of bringing to the market their technologies.
?With the gains achieved in our IP system, we have to expand more collaboration with our trading partners to fully realize the benefits of intellectual property as an asset and as a tool for economic development,? Gepty added.
Japan is also a partner country of the Philippines under the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), which enables work-sharing among the two offices to speed up the patent examination process and improve the quality of examination.
Based on the 2014 International Property Rights Index (IPRI), Philippines was ranked No. 2 in patent protection in Asia and Oceania Region with Japan garnering the top rank.
