The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) is building the next generation of Philippine patent drafting experts through the implementation of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s International Patent Drafting Training Program (IPDTP). 

To formally institutionalize the initiative, IPOPHL recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WIPO, enabling the agency to align the program with its national patent capacity-building initiatives. The agreement was signed on July 14 at the sidelines of the WIPO General Assembly meetings in Geneva. 

Under the MOU, Filipino participants who successfully complete the IPDTP will receive a certificate recognized as equivalent to credits under the Philippines’ national patent agent training and qualification program. 

The intensive training program will provide current and aspiring patent professionals with intensive, practice-oriented training in patent drafting in four components, comprising a distance learning phase on patent drafting fundamentals; a week-long, in-person workshop at WIPO headquarters in Geneva; online exercises with support from highly qualified trainers and a final examination organized by WIPO. 

“Through this initiative, both current professionals and a new generation of patent agents will be well-equipped to serve Filipino inventors and guide them through the process of securing protection for their innovations,” IPOPHL Director General Teodoro C. Pascua said. “As innovation continues to accelerate in the country and more inventors emerge with breakthrough solutions, our capacity to help them protect their inventions must keep pace.” 

Aside from strengthening national patent drafting capabilities, the implementation of the IPDTP is expected to complement existing initiatives such as the Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) and capacity-building efforts of IPOPHL’s Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) network.  

IPOPHL is also exploring the possibility of further integrating the program into national patent agent recognition processes. # # # (Rawl Maliwat, Communications & Marketing Writer)