IPOPHL studies further IP professionalization with SoKor’s recommendations

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is now reviewing the recommendations of the Korean Invention Promotion Association (KIPA) to fill in the growing demand for intellectual property (IP) professionals servicing the innovation, creativity and business markets in the Philippines.

The recommendations stemmed from a seven-month knowledge sharing program (KSP) that ended last month.

The program ran a series of policy consultations about IPOPHL’s strategy and efforts in strengthening IP-based professions.

“With the comprehensive study by the KIPA, IPOPHL is better equipped in expanding our capabilities in furthering IP professions. This partnership opens the possibilities to broadening horizons for our IP professionals,” IP Academy Officer-in-Charge Assistant Director Frederick P. Romero, Ph.D. said.

Among the recommendations of KIPA are the development of a national IP human resource development framework and a certification system on specific IP professions.

IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba lauded the completion of the KSP and described it a timely development as filings are beginning to recover, indicating renewed demand for IP protection.

“This boost in demand for protecting new IPs also raises the need for IP professionals who are skilled and learned enough to safeguard these new intangible assets. These recommendations welcome the findings of this cooperation as a chance to further meet the demands of the growing IP market,” Barba said.

The study has also given IPOPHL more insight on how to develop the implementing rules and regulations (IRR), currently being finalized by the IP Academy, that can enhance the professionalization of patent and trademark agents recognized by IPOPHL.

Through the drafting of the IRR, IPOPHL aims to apply the KSP learnings into the professionalization of trademark and patent agents.

Under Section 7.1 of the IP Code, the Director General of the IPOPHL is mandated to propose policies, programs and projects for the recognition of attorneys or other persons representing applicants or other parties before IPOPHL.

The study was in cooperation with the Korean Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Korean IP Office (KIPO), the Korea Development Institute (KDI), the Korean IP Training Institute and the KIPA to heighten the professional standards for IP experts and agents in the Philippines.

KIPA is the lead agency that trains IP talents and supplies next generation IP personnel to universities and companies.

The Republic of Korea is a known ground for skilled and thriving IP professionals as the country produces large volumes of high-value IPs that need protecting and commercializing.

In 2020, the Republic of Korea ranked 4th in having the highest patent filing activities in the world according to World Intellectual Property Indicators Report 2021. It also ranks 11th in marks and 2nd in designs.

Meanwhile, the content industry contributed 126.04 trillion KRW or 6.5% to the country’s GDP, according to its Copyright Overseas Promotion Association.