IPO opens WV satellite office
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) yesterday opened its satellite office Iloilo City, the seventh in the country, at the Department of Trade and Industry 6 building.
IP Philippines Director General Ricardo Blancafor said the IPO in Western Visayas will help inventors in the region protect and safeguard their works.
The IPO accepts applications for trademark and patent registrations over brand names and inventions.
Blancaflor said the protection of intellectual property such as patents, trademarks and copyright is key to successful business.
Registration of an invention, innovation, design or brand gives the owner recognition and control over the commercialization of his intellectual property, he added.
Blancaflor said IP is an effective business tool that will boost the competitiveness of businesses in Region 6, adding that small and medium-sized enterprises also need to protect their IP through registration.
During the launching program, certificates of registration were awarded to seven business enterprises while a utility model registration was awarded to a platform energy saving switch assembly for an electric flat iron made by Cirilo Tañedo of Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Registered by IP Philippines are the logo Iloilo’s Finest and Device of the Iloilo Small and Medium Enterprise Development Foundation Inc. headed by Valerie Maravilla; logo of the Original Biscocho Haus Special Homemade Delicacies; logo of Pink Guava and Device of Johnny Que; logo of “Committed to Your Health” of Medicus Philippines Inc; logo of Uswag and Device consisting of the words “Uswag and representation of coconut fruits held by two open hands;” and the photographic stenciling device of the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology.
A memorandum of understanding with key institutional partners was drawn up by IP Philippines and a patent drafting course for faculty members and a basic orientation seminar for small and medium-sized enterprises was also held.
The six other branches of IPO are in Angeles, Baguio , Bicol, Cebu, Davao and Legazpi.*PNA
