This National Intellectual Property Month (NIPM), the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is calling upon sporting fans and enthusiasts to uphold the intellectual property (IP) rights of their favorite sports brands, teams and players through responsible consumption practices and mindful purchasing decisions. 

In alignment with the World Intellectual Property (WIPO)’s focus on IP as a critical backbone for the growth of the global sports industry and its value chains, this year’s NIPM launches with the theme “IP in Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate,” spotlighting the role of IP in powering innovation and safeguarding the creative and commercial value in the sports industry. 

IPOPHL Acting Director General (ADG) Nathaniel S. Arevalo emphasized the sports-patronizing public’s contribution to sustaining the livelihoods of the athletes they look up to and fueling the growth of their favorite sports. According to him, upholding IP rights is a direct and impactful way of showing support. 

“Every purchase of authentic merchandise, support for licensed products, and respect for creative content helps protect intellectual property and ultimately the sports industry,” he said. 

The protections IP accords the sports industry, from logos and equipment to creative content and brand endorsements, all generate the economic value needed for the sports industry to flourish.  

For example, trademark registration protecting logos distinguishes authentic merchandise from counterfeits, ensuring revenue from sales goes to legitimate holders of IP rights.  

Patents and industrial designs for innovative technologies like high-performance running shoes reward research and development, ensuring players have access to sporting gear that meets their needs.  

Copyright and its related rights protect creative investments into videos and music created for sporting events and secure the broadcasting rights when these events are aired to the public.  

Brand deals that feature athletes are also anchored in IP, ensuring that the commercial value of their image, performance, and personal brand directly benefits their careers and livelihoods. 

ADG Arevalo went on to call IP the “unseen legal and institutional framework” that protects the integrity of sports brands, rewards innovation, and ensures that athletes, creators, and rights holders are fairly recognized and compensated for their contributions. 

Beyond supporting athletes and commercial enterprises, IP protection also safeguards the consumer public from counterfeit goods and substandard services. Aside from poor quality, counterfeit and pirated goods may pose hazards from unsafe and unregulated production practices and are often linked to criminal elements. 

In light of all these considerations, IPOPHL urges the public to support fair play both on and off the field by refraining from pirating sports broadcasts, avoiding the purchase of counterfeit goods, and reporting IP violations to rights holders so they can take appropriate action. 

Reinforcing this call to action, ADG Arevalo emphasized that fostering a culture of respect for intellectual property begins with everyday choices—choices that ultimately empower Filipino creators and innovators to turn their ideas into meaningful and impactful contributions. 

Deputy Director General Ann Claire Credo-Cabochan highlighted the widespread reach and appeal of sports across the Philippines and underscored how the “underdog spirit” is reflected in the IP stories of the Filipino people. 

“Through sheer ingenuity and great resolve, many Filipino creators and innovators have turned their ideas into successfully commercial IP assets despite challenges,” she said. 

Sports has grown into a global industry, with previous estimates reaching up to $620 billion in economic value. Beyond its commercial impact, the development of sports also contributes significantly to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), serving as a driver of sustainable development and a powerful platform for empowering women and youth. # # # (Rawl Maliwat, Communications & Marketing Writer)