Annual Technical Report on Industrial Design Information Activities in 2022 submitted by INTELLECTUAL_PROPERTY_OFFICE_OF_THE_PHILIPPINES

Please provide links to your website where the requested information can be found in English, French, or Spanish.  Alternately, you may provide text responses instead of URLs if desired.  If the information is not available on your website in an ATR language, then please provide text.

URLs in responses should meet the following requirements:

  • Link to pages with information in English, Spanish, or French
  • The URL will remain stable over time (at least three years, preferably more)
  • Goes to the specific information requested, not to a general homepage
  • If the URL goes to a long PDF document such as an annual report, please indicate which sections or pages contain relevant information.
  • Provide additional instructions for using the URL if needed. For instance, if the page requires the user to login first, or if the requested information requires selecting certain options or filters on the page that can not be included in the URL. 

The term "industrial designs" covers industrial designs and models.

Offices which issue design patents should report their design patent information activities in this series of Annual Technical Reports.

I. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. Outline of main policies and plans aimed at development of industrial design information activities and expected time frames for their realization
  2. New projects launched or resumed this year in the context of the policies(plans) mentioned above, short description: aims, partners, tasks
  3. Main areas of industrial design information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year
  4. Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and grants (registrations) with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes
  5. Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page, statistics, etc.

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/services/industrial-design/

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) plans to accede to the Hague Agreement for the Registration of Industrial Design (ID) by 2024. The ID registration process in the Philippines is now paperless and automated from filing to registration. The issuance of Electronic certificates was launched in March 2022. IPOPHL also chairs the ASEAN ID Task Force that meets at least twice a year to work on AWGIPC deliverables. One of the deliverables is to consider implementing the harmonization of the formality requirements for ID registration among ASEAN Member States (AMS) based on the Study conducted by AMS with the help and guidance from WIPO. 

The Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) on Patents, Utility Model and Industrial Design took effect in 2022. Please see the URL: https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/intellectual-property-code-implementing-rules-and-regulations/. For ID, some of the salient features of the new IRR s is to allow registration of emerging designs, require Power of Attorney to foreign applicants upon filing and to expedite registration process by reducing the period of extension and revival. 

With regard to IP Filings and statistics, please see the following: https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/news/ip-filings-in-1st-half-rise-yoy-exceeding-pre-pandemic-level/

II. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) - URLs
  2. Availability of the application dossier in electronic form
  3. Classification and reclassification activities; classification system used, e.g., International Classification for Industrial Designs (Locarno Classification), other classification
  4. Other activities

URL for online filing:  https://onlineservices.ipophil.gov.ph/eIDFile/

URL for submission of responses and payments: https://onlineservices.ipophil.gov.ph/eDocFilePatents/eDocFilePatents.aspx

URL for Search using WIPO Publish: https://onlineservices.ipophil.gov.ph/wopublish-search/public/patents;jsessionid=C8E7EC6D15C57A25D0DE6F383D989576?0

Classification system used is Locarno.

The IPOPHL also sends soft copy of Office Actions/Communications to ID applicants online through online (ECORR) facility. This will enable the applicants or theire representative to receive Office Actions in their respective registered email addresses in order to expedite the drafting of responses for speedy registration process. Electronic certificates are now being issued for registered IDs since March 2022. 

III. SOURCES OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. Main types of publications in the field of industrial design information, outline of the content (industrial design applications, design patents, registrations, etc.) and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)
  2. Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URL), etc.
  3. Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
  4. Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)

  5. Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)

  6. Other sources

Patents, Utility Model and Industrial Design publication medium (Online gazette):     https://onlineservices.ipophil.gov.ph/patgazette/

Aside from WIPO Publish, Examiners and ID stakeholders may conduct prior design searches through the ff:

ASEAN DESIGNVIEW, GLOBAL DESIGN DATABASE- WIPO, J-PlatPat, AUSPAT, CIPO, DESIGNVIEW (OHIM), Espacenet, Google / Google Patents, and Online selling platforms and social networking sites.

IV. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements
  2. Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office
  3. Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources
  4. Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file
  5. Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)
  6. Other matters

1. a. IPAS 3.1.1 D - Core IP application developed by WIPO
    b. Business Intelligence/Data Analytics based on Tableau
    c. MS Office Productivity Tools

2. a. HP Enterprise Servers
    b. VMWare Virtualization Software
    c. Core/Distribution/Access Switches by CISCO
    d. Fortinet Firewalls

3. IP Databases for Patents, UM, ID, Trademarks and Copyrights

4. Search tools developed by WIPO 

5. Software for Administration: NGAS Financials, FMS Fee Management System, etc.

6. For IP Statistics:   https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/reference/statistics/

7. For IP Help & Support:        https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/help-and-support/

V. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. Office's library (if deals with industrial design information): equipment, collection management, network of libraries in the country, cooperation with foreign libraries
  2. Publications related to different business procedures and industrial design information sources available to users, for example, books, brochures, Internet publications, etc.

  3. Cooperation with universities, technology and innovation support centers, etc.

  4. Education and training: training courses, e learning modules (URLs), seminars, exhibitions, etc.
  5. Other activities

 

Industrial Design FAQs (IPOPHL Website)

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/help-and-support/industrial-design/

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) continues to deliver intellectual property (IP) learning programs through free webinars for the general public. Previously called iLEAP IP, iLEAP Plus has expanded offerings this 2022 with the aim to make the intellectual property (IP) system easier to understand and to provide useful information on IP registration and maintenance. Each session focuses on one IP right with the aim to help participants to understand the different IPRs and how to have their IP assets registered with the IPOPHL.

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/ileap-ip/

The IP Boost Camp is a FREE comprehensive 5-day training program that provides an opportunity for undergraduate students and law students to acquire a deeper knowledge of IP and other IP-related areas. The IP Boost Camp targets this audience to better prepare them in their respective career by boosting their competence and confidence on IP.

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/ip-boost-camp/

The IP Roadshow is a short training program on intellectual property (overview of the IP system, patents, trademark, and copyright and related rights), as well as an advocacy campaign on the enforcement of IP in order to build respect for intellectual property rights. The IP Roadshow shall visit universities, colleges, and relevant institutes/agencies to conduct a short seminar on IP for 100-250 students per leg. Aside from the theoretical lectures, IP Roadshow also includes fun activities such as games, video presentations, and other interactive activities.

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/ip-academy/ip-roadshow/

IPOPHL, in recent years, developed a network of 100 ITSOs composed of higher education and research development institutions. This program seeks to foster creation of intellectual property (IP) in the academe and research sectors, particularly in invention and utility models, to increase the national innovative output and to push the presence of Filipino inventions in the international patent system. Likewise, it is setup to strengthen support for our Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as the ITSOs extend technical assistance to MSMEs and local inventors as regards trademark and patent searches as well as drafting of patent, utility model, and industrial design documents. 

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/innovation-technology-support-office-itso/

The JUANA PATENT and JUANA DESIGN PROTECTION (JPIP) is an incentive program that advances government's initiative to boost women, MSME and startup innovativeness and competitiveness. The program will will waive certain fees in favor of 50 inventions, 150 utility models and 150 industrial designs that are qualified. Beneficiaries will also enjoy prioritized and fast-tracked processing of their applications under the JPIP. In the selection process, the individual, MSME or start-up must pass a set of criteria to benefit from the program. For availment of the incentive package, the applications must be filed at IPOPHL, through its headquarters or its Intellectual Property Satellite Offices (IPSOs) in the regions.

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/juana-patent-and-juana-design-protection-incentive-program/

The IPOPHL recognizes that effectively harnessing the intellectual property system towards economic development is a coordinated, nationwide undertaking. To extend its services and capture IP creators outside of Metro Manila, IPOPHL maintains a network of Intellectual Property Satellite Offices (IPSOs) throughout Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, housed in Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) offices. The IPSO personnel for each regions conduct their own IP dissemination activities and patent/design drafting seminars around the country. 

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/intellectual-property-satellite-office-ipso-2/

VI.INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN INFORMATION

Information on the following topics is desired:

  1. International exchange of industrial design information in machine-readable form (e.g., Official Gazettes)
  2. Participation in international or regional activities and projects related to industrial design information

  3. Assistance to developing countries

  4. Other activities

IPOPHL Design webpage

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/services/industrial-design/

Official Gazette (online)

https://onlineservices.ipophil.gov.ph/patgazette/

Design search

https://onlineservices.ipophil.gov.ph/wopublish-search/public/designs?0

The Philippines, through the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), has assumed  the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC), the group leading the bloc to fulfill its 2025 goal of driving economic prosperity in the region through intellectual property (IP). Remaining areas of work include exploring possibilities of establishing unified regional systems on trademark, patents, and industrial designs. The ASEAN ID Task Force activities are anchored under AWGIPC's deliverables which includes digitization activities, backlog reduction, common guidelines, and harmonization of registration process. The Philippines also participates in EU-ARISE ASEAN Design Convergence Network Meeting which aims to improve ASEAN design services by identifying similarities and differences in industrial design practices among ASEAN member states, as well as to strengthen the efficiency of ASEAN intellectual property (IP) Offices through the convergence of design practices.  

VII. OTHER RELATED MATTERS

Philippines through IPOPHL is aiming to be a member of Hague Agreement and Design Law Treaty.