The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPO) is now offering WIPO Mediation for disputes pending before the IPO.
In accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding, the IPO and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have established a joint dispute resolution procedure for the referral of intellectual property (IP) disputes to the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (WIPO Center).
All cases filed in the IPO primarily involving one or more parties domiciled outside the Philippines can now avail of the WIPO Mediation, specifically:
? Administrative complaints for violation of intellectual property rights (IPV) and/or unfair competition
? Inter partes cases (IPC)
? Disputes involving technology transfer payments
? Disputes relating to the terms of a license involving the author’s rights to public performance or other communication of his work
? Cases appealed to the Office of the Director General (ODG) from decisions of the Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA) and the Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau (DITTB)
? All other cases which may be referred to mediation during the settlement period declared by the Director General
The WIPO Mediation option offered by IPO may be especially advantageous for international parties or parties seeking to settle related disputes in multiple jurisdictions.
