61 applications filed for protection of int’l trademarks – IPO

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 61 applications for protection of international trademarks under the Madrid Protocol have been filed by businesses based in the Philippines.

A document from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) showed several businesses which have filed applications. These include Emperador Inc. (Emperador and Emperador Brandy Gold Premium Selection), LBC, Iglesia ni Cristo, Profood International Corp. (Cebu Dried Mangoes), International Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Efficascent Oil, Omega Painkiller Liniment, Gastripac, Bioderm, and Dr. S. Wong’s Sulfur Soap), Magicmelt Foods Inc. (Magic Melt), Julie’s Bakeshop, and Tapa King Inc.

The Madrid Protocol allows owners of trademark applications and registrations to extend their rights to the pact’s 92 member-countries.

The country’s accession to the Madrid Protocol took effect in July 2012.

IPOPHL director general Ricardo Blancaflor said in an interview the agency wants to encourage more Filipino businesses to file applications under the Madrid Protocol to be able to protect their brands even in other markets at a lower cost.

“This time, you just have one-time fee of 630 Swiss francs and you have 91 designations. You don’t need to leave the country anymore to make applications in other countries so you have big savings,” he said.

Prior to the country’s accession to the Madrid Protocol, Filipino trademark holders had to file applications in different countries for the protection of their trademarks abroad.

Filing applications in different countries meant higher costs because it entailed hiring a lawyer and payment of fees in the country where the application was being made.

Aside from encouraging local firms to file applications for their trademarks under the Madrid Protocol, Blancaflor is also hopeful more international brands will come to the country as the Philippines’ membership to the pact gives them confidence that their marks will be protected here.

He said the government has been working to strengthen efforts to protect intellectual property rights (IPR) in the country.

In line with the celebration of the World Intellectual Property Day with this year’s theme focused on movies on April 26, he said the government will continue to intensify efforts to deter violations of IPR.

“Protecting the creativity and hard work of the Philippines’ screen community is of paramount importance to IPOPHL. We are implementing stricter security measures to safeguard our film community,” he said.