ANNUAL TECHNICAL REPORT ON TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES IN 2023 SUBMITTED BY THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF THE PHILIPPINES

1. GENERAL OVERVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TRADEMARK INFORMATION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

• Main areas of trademark information activities and related information and communication technology (ICT) practices which were in the focus of attention last year

                                On TM info activities:

Programs relating to Geographical Indications. In 2023, we had a National GI Forum xxx

• Statistics: changes in terms of application filings and registrations with respect to previous year; trends or areas experiencing rapid changes

Filings:

Registrations:

Performance Reports

Link:  https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/transparency/

Under - Status implementation and program/project evaluation and/or assessment reports.

• Other matters and useful links (URLs): annual report of the Office, news page,

statistics, etc.

Link:  https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/transparency/

Under - Annual reports, as required under National Budget Circular Nos. 507 and 507-A dated January 31, 2007 and June 12, 2007, respectively for the last three (3) years

1. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

• Information and support provided by the Office to applicants regarding filing on paper and/or e-filing (instructions, seminars, etc.) – URLs

Information relating to e-filing, seminars, public consultations are found in the IPOPHL website www.ipophil.gov.ph

For online filing information: https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/online-filing/

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

• Matters concerning classifying
  • Classification and reclassification activities; classification systems used, e.g., International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification), International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (Vienna Classification), other classification
  • Use of electronic classification systems and pre-defined terms of the classification applied

                                The BOT uses the following:

                                NICE Classification:

                                WIPO NICE Classification

https://www.wipo.int/classifications/nice/nclpub/en/fr/

Madrid Goods and Services Manager (MGS)

https://webaccess.wipo.int/mgs/

ASEAN TM Class

http://www.asean-tmclass.org/ec2/

USPTO

https://idm-tmng.uspto.gov/id-master-list-public.html

EUIPO TM Class

http://euipo.europa.eu/ec2/

                                Vienna Classification:

                                WIPO Vienna Classification

                                https://nivilo.wipo.int/vienna9/index.htm?lang=EN

                                WIPO Vienna Classification Assistant

                                https://vienna-assistant.branddb.wipo.int/

Matters concerning processing of different types of non-traditional marks (e.g., three-dimensional, motion, hologram, color mark, etc.)

Information as to non-traditional marks are found in the Philippine Trademark Regulations which can be accessed on this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kfczZkVpKiWuFiRSgG5OIlAKvYvRXsB9/view

• Other activities

1. SOURCES OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE –

Main types of publications in the field of trademark information, outline of the content and medium (on paper, on CDs, online - URLs)

• Online (website)

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/intellectual-property-code-implementing-rules-and-regulations/

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/trademark/madrid-protocol/

https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/trademark/examination-guidelines/

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

• Official Gazettes: main types of announcements, frequency of publication, medium (on paper, on CDs, online, URL), etc.
• Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) available to examiners, including external documentation and databases
• Information products (coverage, medium, etc.) and services available to external users; conditions of access (e.g., free of charge, subscription, etc.)
• Legal status information (kind of information, coverage, medium, etc.)

1. ICT SUPPORT TO SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO TRADEMARK INFORMATION CARRIED OUT BY THE OFFICE

Specific software tools supporting business procedures within the Office: general description, characteristics, advantages, possible improvements

• Intellectual Property Administration System (IPAS). The IPAS is a system developed by WIPO which serves as the core system in IP filing and application. The IPOPHL currently uses version 3.1.1D and would benefit greatly from upgrading to the latest version available
• The IPOPHL uses business intelligence and data analytics software to provide support data driven decision making and better appreciate trends in application.
• As with most offices, the IPOPHL uses Microsoft’s office suite to create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentation decks.

Hardware used to supporting business processes of the Office

• Desktop, laptop computers
• Smart phone and tablet computers
• Printing equipment
• Document scanners
• Standard network infrastructure for internet connectivity

Internal databases: coverage, updates, interlinks with external sources

• IP Databases for Patents, UM, ID, Trademarks and Copyrights

Establishment and maintenance of electronic search file: file building, updating, storage, documents from other offices included in the search file

• Search tools developed by WIPO

Administrative management electronic systems (register, legal status, statistics, and administrative support)

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

Other matters

• IP Statistics: https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/reference/statistics/
• IP Help & Support: https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/help-and-support/

1. PROMOTION ACTIVITIES AIMED TO SUPPORT USERS IN ACCESS AND EFFICIENT USE OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION

The Bureau of Trademarks conducts regular retooling workshops for our stakeholders (lawyers, paralegals/agents, trademark filers/registrants, IPOPHL CSR agents) covering topics related to 1) etools used in the trademark examination and trademark filing; 2) trademark laws and regulations; 3) examination procedures.

The examiners in the BOT also serve as resource persons for information dissemination activities initiated by other Bureaus and Offices such as the IP Academy and the DITTB. 

The Bureau is also active in establishing connections with other government agencies and organizations for the promotion of trademark registration focusing on the countries’ MSMEs.  In addition, the Bureau actively solicits the participation of LGUs, cooperatives, and other pertinent associations in the geographical indication information campaign activities. 

The IPOPHL maintains a website with a dedicated page for trademarks.  The contents are regularly updated according to the recurring issues or questions raised by the stakeholders.

1. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF TRADEMARK INFORMATION

The Bureau of Trademarks utilizes the following online trademark database/information systems: WIPO Global Brand Database (Global Brand Database (wipo.int), WIPO Publish (WIPO Publish (ipophil.gov.ph), ASEAN TM View (Global Brand Database (asean-tmview.org), and Madrid Monitor for international registrations under the Madrid Protocol .

1. OTHER RELATED MATTERS