Intellectual property desk opens in Olongapo

To streamline procedures of registering patents, trademarks, and copyright and liberalize the registration of technology transfer, the Olongapo city government has established an Intellectual Property help desk in the area.

A project of Mayor James "Bong" Gordon Jr. in cooperation with the Subic Broadcasting Corporation , the IP Help Desk is located at the Olongapo City Public Library to assist residents of the city and nearby areas in the protection of intellectual property.

Ricardo Blancaflor, director general of the country's Intellectual Property Office, and Anne Marie Gordon, together with the officers from the Bureau of Trademarks- IP Field Operations Unit, led the launching of the help desk last week.

"When you create something you need to be protected para hindi maagaw o makopya ng iba (so no other person can claim it is theirs or copy it)," said DG Blancaflor at the launching.

"Ang Intellectual Property is an asset that any person can own, sell, license, or even give to another person. Distinct types of IP are patents, designs, trademarks, and copyrights that derive from creativity and innovation. Karapatan natin na protektahan ang sarili nating gawa dahil ito ang magiging daan sa ating tagumpay (It is our right to protect our own creation because it is our way to success)," remarked Gordon who represented the mayor at the event.

Republic Act No. 8293 established the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines that says, "[t]he State recognizes that an effective intellectual and industrial property system is vital to the development of domestic and creative activity, facilitates transfer of technology, attracts foreign investments, and ensures market access for our products. It shall protect and secure the exclusive rights of scientists, inventors, artists and other gifted citizens to their intellectual property and creations, particularly when beneficial to the people, for such periods as provided in this Act."

Mayor Gordon encourages every Olongapeño to register their patents, designs, compositions, instruction manuals, and other original works to prevent unscrupulous copying or reproduction.

For interested parties may register at the IP Help Desk at Olongapo City Public Library or call telephone number 611-0437. (PIA)