MANILA, Philippines – Mediation of disputes involving intellectual property issues may now be done online to protect people from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said on Thursday.
According to IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba, this would assure that mediation services would continue even if parties may find it difficult to be physically present due to quarantine measures — aside from making IPOPHL’s operations faster and more cost-effective.
“The new issuance ensures the safety and convenience of the parties and the mediators as well as the continuance of mediation services during the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine and beyond,” Barba said in a statement.
“Moreover, we see our mediation service’s transition to the digital environment as a transformative step that inspires us to further expand our suite of online services,” he added.
Mediation is one of IPOPHL’s main services, which allows parties to discuss their intellectual property and technology disputes in front of a mediator, without having to go through the tedious process of traditional litigation.
IPOPHL defines mediation as a “process of settling dispute with the help of a third neutral party”, which may eventually proceed to arbitration, where a binding procedure is submitted to the neutral party for a final decision on the dispute.
“The main function of the mediator is to facilitate the discussion and negotiation; and skillfully enjoins the parties to cooperate in order to come up with a mutually satisfactory settlement of their dispute,” the office said in their website.
“Mediation resolves disputes quickly and efficiently as parties work together with the mediator in finding a solution beneficial to both parties,” IPOPHL added.
Even if quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon have been eased, people still find it hard to leave their homes out of fear from possible local coronavirus transmissions, and difficult mass transportation modes.
“To take advantage of online mediation, parties to pending mediation proceedings may file a request to be sent to IPOPHL’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Services Head (luwin.delaconcha@ipophil.gov.
“The Director of the BLA (Bureau of Legal Affairs) (nathaniel.arevalo@ipophil.