Businesses urged to protect IP amid crisis

MANILA, Philippines – Businesses should continue to pursue innovation even when the economy is bad, according to the head of the government’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

“Don’t stop innovating even if the economy is bad and always protect your ideas,” said IPO director general Adrian Cristobal Jr. during a recent workshop conducted with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

The IPO chief said companies feeling the impact of the global economic crisis can innovate to stave off risks in their business. Innovation could be in the form of better customer relations or new products that are apt for the current situation.

Companies, meanwhile, are advised ensure proper protection of their IP (intellectual property) assets. In fact, some of these assets can be patented and provide additional income for the owner through royalties.

Cristobal noted that companies in the micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSME) account for more than 99 percent of all registered business establishments in the Philippines.

These companies’ “survivability” can be attributed to their own innovations that make them unique.

The PCCI has put up an IP committee to protect Filipino companies, especially small businesses, from IP piracy and trademark violations, which could have negative effects on companies’ image as potential business partner or investment opportunity.

Anil Sinha, Wold Intellectual Property (WIPO) counselor for small and medium scale enterprises, noted that companies that used to be small are expanding their services portfolio and widening their customer reach abroad.

While these types of companies help improve the local economy, they are also prone to IP violations. He warned that some innovations become stolen as they reach other markets.

“Exporters often realize the importance of protecting their IP once it is too late, for example, once they have missed the deadlines for application or once their product or brand has been copied,” said Sinha.

To protect against these issues, Cristobal said IPO already established satellite offices in the cities of Cebu, Davao, Pampanga, and Legaspi. These can accommodate trademark applications of MSMEs. –Alexander Villafania, INQUIRER.net