IPOPHL GRANTS GUIMARAS’ MANGO COLLECTIVE TRADEMARK REGISTRATION

IPOPHL Bureau of Trademarks Director Leny B. Raz (standing on left beside the GI Seal) with Guimaras Provincial Officials and the GMGPDC Officers.

The Director of the Bureau of Trademarks, Atty. Leny B. Raz presented the Certificate of Registration of the Collective Trademark to the Province of Guimaras and the Guimaras Mango Growers and Producers Development Cooperative (GMGPDC) during the inauguration and opening ceremonies of the 25^th Manggahan Festival last May 11, 2017 at Jordan, Guimaras.

 The Unveiling of the Guimaras Quality Seal was graced by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) OIC Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon, Guimaras Governor Samuel T. Gumarin, M.D., Guimaras Vice Governor John Edward Gando, Intellectual Property Satellite Office (IPSO) - Iloilo Field Operations Specialist Marianne Tajanlangit-Bebit and various Guimaras provincial officials and staff.

GMGPDC, represented by its Chairperson, Mrs. Rosario Griesser sought the registration of this quality mark in order to protect the specific qualities and reputation of Guimaras mangoes.

The cooperative’s officers and members together with the Provincial Economic Development Office chaired by Miss Elena V. Quezon and the Provincial Office of Agricultural Services as supervised by Mr. Ronnie Morante, have undergone various training and seminars under IPOPHLand came up with the Code of Practice that will guide the members in maintaining the excellent quality of the mangoes produced in the province. It will also serve as their standard of practice in safeguarding its reputation of having the sweetest and excellent export-quality fresh mangoes in the country. 

For the past years, IPOPHL certified various Geographical Indications: the Bonoan Bangus in Pangasinan, the T'nalak of Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, the Lumban Barong Tagalog in Quezon Province, the Davao Pomelo, the Batangas Barako Coffee, the Kalinga Coffee, the Mindoro Calamansi,  and the Cebu Dried Mangoes.  The IPOPHL continues assistance and  IP capacity building seminars for certifications of Geographical Indications as a Collective Mark that aims sustainable historical economic contribution and at the same time to protect the identity of each product.

Visit www.ipophil.gov.ph for more details about Geographical Indications and Collective Marks.

words:  Marianne Tajanlangit-Bebit, IPSO Ilo-Ilo

IPOPHL Launches New Electronic Filing System

IPOPHL Launches New Electronic Filing System

       

Stakeholders tried out filing online, standing at back portion

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) launched its new electronic filing system known as the IPOPHL TM eFile as part of the World IP Day Celebrations, which started on 23 April, with the Celebration of the World Book and Copyright Day. 

Director Leny B. Raz

The IPOPHL eTMfile allows the online filing of new trademark applications 24/7 and is linked to three different payment channels. With IPOPHL eTMfile, applicants and IP agents need not go to the IPOPHL to file trademark applications.   

IPOPHL eTMfile is one of the new initiatives of Director General Josephine Rima-Santiago, who assumed the top IPOPHL post less than six months ago, to modernize the eServices for use by IPOPHL stakeholders. 

Director General Josephine R. Santiago

According to Director General Santiago, “the IPOPHL began enhancing its IT systems with the deployment of the Industrial Property Automation System (IPAS) as the new back office system for patents and trademarks in 2012.  Now, we are focusing on tools that will modernize electronic transactions with the IPOPHL, starting with the new IPOPHL eTMfile.”

The IPOPHL eTMfile is linked to two other tools—ASEAN TMclass, which makes the classification of goods and services much easier, and National IPOPHL TMview, allowing the generation of preliminary search reports that applicants may use as reference prior to filing.  IPOPHL eTMfile also has another new feature, which makes possible the submission of documents, such as the special power of attorney, request for priority examination, and declaration of actual use, together with the online application. 

IPOPHL eTMfile is a system developed in collaboration with EU-ASEAN Project on IP Rights (ECAP III Phase II), a project being administered by the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

As lead for both information technology and trademarks under the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC), the IPOPHL has been collaborating closely with the ECAP III Project for the adaptation of IT tools that could be used not only by the Philippines, but also by other ASEAN IP Offices. 

Director General Santiago said further, “the IPOPHL eTMfile is the first of two eServices tools that we are deploying this semester.  Next in the pipeline is the IPOPHL eDOCfile, an advanced electronic filing system for practically all types of trademark documents, including responses, powers of attorney, various types of declarations, assignments, and enables both the IPOPHL and the applicant to digitally sign documents submitted to the Office.”The prototype of the IPOPHL eDOCfile was also presented to stakeholders after the eTMfile launch.

The IPOPHL is the first ASEAN Office to deploy eTMfile and is also expected to be the first to go on production with the eDOCfile in June.

The IPOPHL eTMfile is accessible to all trademark stakeholders beginning today. Log on to: http://121.58.254.39:8080/sp-ui-tmefiling/wizard.htm?execution=e1s1

words:  IPOPHL