IPOPHL launches women-centric patent programs
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) recently introduced its Juana Patent and Juana Design Protection Incentive program for women investors and startups who would like to register their inventions in the agency.
These initiatives will provide women-owned businesses free invention patent grants and registration for their utility models or industrial designs.
IPOPHL said that these programs aim to encourage women to “protect their innovations and designs and to enhance their awareness and competence in intellectual property (IP).”
According to IPOPHL Bureau of Patents Assistant Director Ann Edillon, eligible applicants must be those who are in priority sectors as defined by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or IPOPHL; those with business names registered by DTI, Securities and Exchange Commission or the Cooperative Development Agency; have total assets that do not exceed P100 million (US$1.92 million); and firms that did not applied in the Philippine Inventors and Inventions Incentive Act.
Businesses must also have up to 20 employees only and must have at least one woman co-inventor or co-maker that is a Philippine citizen.
If the applicant is an MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise), it must be a woman-led or woman-owned Philippine enterprise domiciled in the Philippines.
The program will run from April 15, 2022 until April 30, 2023. It is expected to benefit 50 eligible inventions, 150 utility models and 150 industrial designs in the country.
