Inventors could file for protection of intellectual property online until the end of the Luzon quarantine, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said on Thursday.
The IPOPHL said in a statement it had issued a memorandum circular last March 16 suspending manual filings for intellectual property protections until April 14.
IPOPHL employees, especially the customer service providers and information and technology infrastructure managers, would work from home in the meantime.
“Despite the monthlong work suspension, it will be public service as usual for IPOPHL as my hardworking colleagues and I virtually communicate every day to maintain the quality and nationwide availability of our service,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba said.
The agency said it has already published on its website and social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn) a visual step-by-step guide to apply online.
IPOPHL’s eTMFile for trademarks, eInventionfile for patents, eUMfile for utility models and eIDfile for industrial designs are platforms that can facilitate the filing of the application—from submission of documents to payment—and are accessible through IPOPHL’s website.
Payments can be made through Dragonpay. Another payment option is through Visa credit card.
Applicants and clients outside Metro Manila can take advantage of the online services and may ask for assistance from field operations personnel in satellite offices through mobile or email.
IPOPHL has also suspended hearings, including mediation proceedings, scheduled between March 16 and April 14. Deadlines for all papers, pleadings, documents and payments falling due within the affected period are deemed extended for 30 calendar days from the due date.
Operations of the document receiving sections of the agency are also suspended. Letters, queries or any other written communications may be filed beginning April 15.
Meanwhile, submissions of copyrighted work for recording are also suspended pending the rollout of an online infrastructure for said process.