Recognizing the role of the patent system as a driver to further research and innovation, IPOPHL hopes to encourage more Filipino inventors to seek international protection of their inventions, considering the fee waiver program and the office’s upgrading of competence and expertise.
The Bureau of Patents (BOP) implements the PCT Filing Assistance Program, through which search fees ($ 1000 for big entity, $ 400 for small) and preliminary examination fees ($ 200 for small entities and $ 500 for big entities) will be waived for the first 100 applicants who choose IPOPHL as the ISA/IPEA.
Apart from 1) individual Filipino inventors and 2) HEIs part of IPOPHL’s Innovation and Technology Support Office network, also eligible for this waiver program are 3) foreign applicants from states included in the ‘WIPO List of eligible nationals or residents for 90% reduction in certain PCT fees’ (developing or least-developed countries).
The program will be in effect from May 20 to December 31, 2019 or after 100 requests for ISRs have been filed, whichever comes first.