BASIC IP INFORMATION

 Intellectual Property

The Intellectual Property (IP) refers to any creation or product of the human mind or intellect. It can be an invention, an original design, a practical application of a good idea, a mark of ownership such as trademark, literary and artistic works, among other things. Today it is considered a key component of businesses and most successful companies have recognized the crucial role of intellectual property ensuring their companies' future. Failure to protect IP may spell the difference between the success and failure of a business entity

In addition to the above, the Philippine intellectual property system includes protection for utility models and new plant varieties

COPYRIGHT

Copyright protects original expression in the forms of literary, scholarly, scientific and artistic creations.

Copyright protection may also be extended to software programs, compilation of databases, and derivative works. Theses may include dramatizations, translation, adaptation, abridgement , arrangements, and other alteration of literary or artistic works.

TRADEMARK OR SERVICE MARK

Trademark or service mark is a distinctive and visible sign, symbol, emblem or device used by the enterprise to differentiate its good or products (trademark or services (service mark) and shall include a stamped or marked container of goods. The use of the mark generated GOODWILL that gives value to the IP.

GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION

 Geographical indications are indication, which identify goods as originating in the territory of a country or a region or locality in the territory, where a given quality  reputation or other characteristics of the goods are essentially attributed to its geographical origin

 INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

 Industrial design protects the new ornamental appearance of an article of manufacture.

PATENT

Patent is a grant issued by a government giving an inventor the exclusive right to exclude  others from making, using, importing, and offering for sale the product of his invention.

An invention is any technical solution of a problem in any field of human activity, which is NEW, involves INVENTIVE STEP, and is INDUSTRIALLY APPLICABLE.

LAYOUT-DESIGN OF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT
Layout design of integrated circuits is an original topography (picture of a surface) of elements, at least one of which is an active element and some or all interconnections of an integrated circuit, or such three-dimensional disposition prepared for an integrated circuit intended for manufacture.
PROTECTION OF UNDISCLOSED INFORMATION or TRADE SECRET
The protection sought by natural and legal persons who have the possibility of preventing information lawfully within their control from being disclosed to, acquired by, or used by others without their consent in a manner contrary to honest commercial practices so long as such information:
  • is secret in the sense that is not, as body or in precise configuration and assembly of its components, generally known among or readily accessible to persons within the circles that normally deal with the kind of information in question;

  • has commercial value because it is secret; and

  • has been subject to reasonable steps under the circumstances, by the persons lawfully in control of the information, to keep it secret.

UTILITY MODEL
utility model is a "petty" patent for new and industrially applicable technical solution of a problem. A new and useful, but obvious improvement may be protected as utility model.
NEW PLANT VARIETIES PROTECTION
The New Plant Varieties Protection as covered under Republic Act No. 9168, which took effect on July 20, 2002, governs protection for new plant varieties. To be entitled to protection, the new plant variety must be distinct, uniform and stable.
TERMS OF PROTECTION
Copyright During the life of the author and for 50 years after his death
Trademark Ten(10) years and may be renewed for periods of ten (10) years each
Invention Patent Twenty (20) years from filing date of the application
Utility Model Seven (7) years from filing date of the application without renewal
Industrial Design Five (5) years from filing date of the application and may be renewed for not more than two (2) consecutive periods of five (5) year each

 Lay-out design of Integrated Circuit

Ten (10) years from filing date of the application

 New Plant Variety

Twenty-five (25) years from the date of grant (trees and vines) and twenty (20) years for all other types of plants.