IPOPHL pushes for intellectual property teaching in basic ed

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The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) on Wednesday said it is working on a measure to integrate Intellectual Property (IP) education into the basic education curriculum.

Ann Claire Cabochan, deputy director general of IPOPHL, said during a recent four-day regional seminar for teachers and the youth that the agency is looking forward to working with the Department of Education soon.

“A child educated on the importance of IP is more likely to grow into an adult who values and protects intellectual property,” Cabochan said. “This cultural shift could lead to a reduction in IP-related violations in the future and greater innovation and creativity.”

READ: Intellectual property body eyes guidelines for AI-generated artwork

The World Intellectual Property Organization and IPOPHL organized the event as part of their broader push to bring IP awareness to more schools and cultivate a culture of IP respect and appreciation among the younger generation.

Last October, IPOPHL said that four universities in Cagayan Valley have joined their Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSO) Program, which provide access to IP services to the academic community.

To date, IPOPHL’s ITSO network consists of at least 95 universities, colleges and research institutions.

Growth streak

IP registrations in the Philippines increased by 2.5 percent in 2023, marking three consecutive years of growth beginning in 2021 or after the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Registrations for trademarks, patents, utility models (UM) and industrial designs (ID) reached 49,832 last year, growing from the 48,600 recorded in 2022.

In particular, trademark filings climbed slightly by 1.2 percent, reaching 41,953 from the 41,452 tallied a year ago.

Meanwhile, filings for UMs—which provide patent-like protection at a shorter duration and with a less rigorous application process—registered the highest annual growth at a rate of 24 percent, rising to 1,847 applications from just 1,489 in 2022.

On the other hand, patent applications saw a 2.9 percent growth to 4,544 from 4,418 in the preceding year.

Lastly, filings for IDs— which protect the unique appearance of a product—increased from 1,488 in 2023 from 1,241 in 2022, marking a 19.9-percent increase. INQ