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Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director Jon W. Dudas (left) and IP Philippines' Director General Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr. after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims to strengthen the intellectual property rights in both countries. |
Sydney, Australia - The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) signed a cooperation agreement to further strengthen intellectual property rights in its acquisition, utilization and protection in both countries.
In the memorandum of understanding (MoU), the three main activities that the two offices will undertake are improving the administration of intellectual property (IP) protection system; identifying the effectiveness of legal protection for and in the use of IP and; developing professional skills through information sharing and exchange and capacity building.
'This technical cooperation agreement is a clear recognition of the importance of intellectual property to economic development and growth," Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal Jr., Director General of IP Philippines, said. "With this MoU, our strategic partnership with USPTO has gone beyond enforcement strategies, it now includes capacity-building for patent examinations in biotechnology, strategies for commercialization of patented technologies, and raising public awareness and education on the importance of IP in today's knowledge economy," he added.
USPTO will provide technical assistance on the development of patents (particularly utility model and industrial design) and trademark examination manuals, automated patent and trademark examination tools, and other modernization projects.
"The USPTO appreciates this opportunity to work with the Philippines. We are confident that, together, we will contribute to enhancing the administration of intellectual property rights for IP users in both the Philippines and the United States," Jon W. Dudas, Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director, said.
IP Philippines and USPTO will exchange information on IPR-related matters and compile and publish information materials such as reviews of best practices. The two offices will likewise provide each other copies of their respective laws and regulations, manuals and guidelines for examiners, and other references such as literature, statistics, judgments and decisions on intellectual property cases.
The signing of the MoU took place during the IP Trading Ideas Symposium hosted by IP Australia where Director Cristobal was invited.
Links of websites that featured the MoU between IP Philippines and USPTO: