According to a press release by the Office, the offering of the new product, which is a part of its continuing effort to improve and enhance its services to its clients and other IP stakeholders, is among the highlights of the IP Philippines’ celebrations of the World Copyright Day on April 23 and the World IP Day on April 26.
Some of the other highlights of the celebrations are a mini-exhibit on inventions by Filipino inventors, a lecture seminar on IP and the launching with stakeholders of training program, whose aim is to further promote and protect IP.
The TM Online, which is a joint project with Equitable PCI Bank, is a web-based secure electronic filing system for applications for the registration of trademarks, service marks, geographical indications and other marks of ownership. It is a convenient alternative filing system which trademark applicants and agents can use 24 hours a day and seven days a week without having to leave their offices or places.
“This is a part of our commitment to further improve and enhance our services to our clients. Now applicants from all over the country need not come to the Makati office, saving in transportation and other costs in doing business with the office,” said IP Philippines Director General Adrian S. Cristobal Jr.
“With the new service, we hope to bring the IP Philippines closer and more accessible to our people, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs),” he added.
Cristobal said that IP Philippines has one of the most advanced automated systems in the Southeast Asian region and he expected that the online services would attract more users.
The IPO has received a total of 24, 975 trademark applications for the past two years, 2004 up to 2005.
The launching of the TM Online at the ground floor of the IP Philippines’ office was joined by other officials of IP Philippines including Deputy Director Generals Pacifico Avenido Jr. and Ireneo Galicia and Optical Media Board chairman Edu Manzano, whose office is a partner of IP Philippines in the campaign against IP violations.
Quelle: ag-IP-news Agency, 24.04.2006
