IPOPHL deepens global partnerships as PH concludes successful chairship at WIPO General Assemblies

By Rawl Maliwat

The Philippines concluded its chairship of the 68th Series of Meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) General Assemblies with strengthened international partnerships and renewed commitments to advance innovation, intellectual property (IP) and technology cooperation, reinforcing the country’s growing role in shaping the global IP agenda.

Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Director General Teodoro C. Pascua congratulated Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, for the successful chairship of the WIPO General Assemblies.

“His leadership came at a pivotal time for international cooperation in advancing innovation and creativity toward greater sustainable development,” DG Pascua said.

During the meetings held in Geneva from July 7 to 15, IPOPHL, for its part, deepened the country’s collaboration with WIPO and fellow member states through policy discussions, bilateral engagements and support for international IP initiatives aimed at accelerating innovation-driven and inclusive economic growth.

DG Pascua also shared updates on the country’s ongoing contributions to key international IP initiatives.

Among the initiatives highlighted was the Asian Regional Conference on Artists’ Resale Rights, held in June this year with substantial financial and technical support from WIPO. The conference served as a platform for advancing regional dialogue on the implementation of artists’ resale rights, particularly in response to the rapid evolution of digital art markets.

The Philippines also continued advancing the WIPO Development Agenda project “Sustaining and Strengthening the Role of Collective Marks as a Tool for Economic, Cultural, and Social Development through a Holistic Developmental Approach,” which seeks to enable rights holders and communities to maximize the potential of their collective marks. In line with this project, the Philippines, alongside co-proponents Bolivia and Brazil, developed a comprehensive practical training program on the registration, management and use of collective marks to support inclusive and sustainable enterprise growth.

On the policy front, the Philippines reported progress in the necessary national processes toward accession to the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.

The Philippines also reaffirmed its support for ongoing efforts to finalize the draft WIPO Broadcasting Organizations Treaty ahead of a future Diplomatic Conference on the landmark document.

The country likewise reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening IP enforcement alongside fellow WIPO member states, building on its role as Vice Chair of the 18th meeting of the Advisory Committee on Enforcement in June.

During the General Assembly, IPOPHL also secured WIPO’s renewal and extension of its appointment as an International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), while forging a new collaboration with WIPO to strengthen patent drafting training for Filipino inventors.

Taken together, these initiatives underscore the Philippines’ commitment to working closely with WIPO and the international community to strengthen the global IP system while moving its national innovation and development agenda forward.

“We express our sincere appreciation to WIPO for its active engagement and support for the Philippines’ priorities, and for being a key partner in advancing initiatives that highlight the importance of intellectual property in the economy,” DG Pascua said. (IPOPHL Communications & Marketing)