On April 25 2012 the President of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino
III, signed the Instrument of Accession of the Philippines to the Madrid
Protocol, which is expected to take effect in the Philippines on July
25 2012. Prior to this date, the Intellectual Property Office (IPOPHL)
prepared for the accession by improving its trade mark registration
processing time, and meeting with various stakeholders to explain the
system, and obtain reactions to it.
The Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce (JFC) in the Philippines is in
agreement with the accession since it would make trade mark
registration easier, faster and less expensive, and will ensure that the
country maintains a competitive advantage considering that its main
trading partners such as the United States, EU, Japan, Australia, Korea
and Singapore are already members of the Protocol. As early as October
2010, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution urging the
Philippine Senate to ratify accession to the Madrid Protocol.
To date, the IPOPHL has not come out with any possible amendments to
the IP Code or its rules that would harmonise provisions not compatible
with those of the Madrid Protocol, such as filing declarations of use.
The Philippines joins two members of the ASEAN, Singapore and Vietnam,
in the Protocol. All the ASEAN member states have agreed under the ASEAN
Economic Community Blueprint to accede to the Protocol by 2015.
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| Editha R Hechanova |
Hechanova Bugay & Vilchez
GF Chemphil Building Antonio Arnaiz Ave
Makati City 1223
Philippines
Tel: +63 2 888 4293
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editharh@info.com.ph