Philippines accedes to Madrid Protocol

The Philippines is now a member of the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol), according to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

This will make it easier and more affordable for companies to register their trademarks here and abroad as trademarks registered through the protocol will be automatically registered in member-countries.

The Philippines’ major trading partners including Japan, United States, China, Singapore, Korea, Australia and the European Union are all members of the Madrid Protocol.

A single channel will likewise facilitate renewals and changes in trademark ownership.

“For Filipino companies expanding abroad, that is great news. For the domestic companies, they have to expect fiercer competition with foreign brands. I hope the IRR [implementing rules and regulations] will have a safety mechanism for those affected. For example, give the local time and make it easy for them to register their brands, as well as get assistance for those going abroad,” PCCI vice president Samie Lim said via text message.

The Madrid Protocol is a filing system that facilitates the registration of marks in several countries through a single application filed with the IPOPHL.

It simplifies the protection of marks outside the Philippines and reduces the cost of registration.

Accession to the Madrid Protocol will help Filipino entrepreneurs protect their brands as they expand into international markets since financial and administrative costs will be considerably reduced. The Madrid Protocol also eases the cost of doing business for foreign investors and facilitates exporting of businesses for Filipino entrepreneurs, IPOPHL said.

IPOPHL said it will begin accepting applications filed via the Madrid Protocol by July 25, 2012.