The Intellectual Property (IP) Department of the Firm consistently ranks among the top IP practices in the Philippines and is highly regarded both locally and internationally.

The Firm represents thousands of IP interests worldwide, including clients in the fields of media and entertainment, clothing and apparel, cosmetics, food and beverage, information technology, oil, telecommunications, electronics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, construction, manufacturing, retail, banking and financial institutions, and even educational and research institutions.

Our lawyers are from diverse backgrounds representing the sciences, businesses and the arts. They are equipped with the skills and expertise to counsel our clients on protecting, enforcing and commercializing their intellectual property to enhance their competitive position in today’s global marketplace. With their experience and expertise, our lawyers lead both local and international IP organizations and are frequently featured as speakers and resource persons on IP topics worldwide.

Our IP Department is supported by an excellent paralegal staff helping us provide a comprehensive range of services to our clients: from IP development, management and commercialization to protection and enforcement of IP rights. Unlike other firms that refer intellectual property litigation to their general litigation lawyers, our own IP Department handles all intellectual property litigation. This is particularly crucial as IP practice requires specialized or technical knowledge that general litigation lawyers usually do not possess.

Since IP practice is multi-disciplinary by nature, we take a collaborative approach to developing and protecting our clients’ wide range of IP assets. With a keen business perspective and thorough understanding of the technical features of our clients’ IP assets, our IP Department is able to develop effective IP strategies and offer efficient solutions to our clients’ IP needs.

Our areas of practice in regard to intellectual property include:

Providing full trademark search, filing and prosecution services

Providing full patent search, drafting of specification and claims, filing and prosecution services, backed by our extensive experience in prosecuting local and international applications via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Registration and deposit of copyright and providing advice on copyright protection.

Our Firm’s Media Entertainment and Broadcasting practice area not only counsel clients on key intellectual property matters such as intellectual property audits and the conduct of infringement studies but also provides administrative assistance such as licensing and registration, regulatory compliance and advise on specific amendments to legislations or regulations for the promotion of interests of stakeholders.

Providing advice on all aspects of licensing and franchising including negotiating, drafting and reviewing license and franchise agreements and the registration thereof, or applying for exemption from compliance with the Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau of the Philippine Intellectual Property Office, providing advice on issues affecting regulatory compliance, tax, royalty payments, confidentiality and operations manuals, quality control, rights enforcement, renewal and other issues arising from the performance of the agreements and commercialization of intellectual property, including business feasibility evaluation and development and implementation of commercialization plan.

Providing advice on different compliance and regulatory requirements for food, drugs and cosmetics, including obtaining registration from the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and providing guidance on packaging, labelling, marketing and advertising.

Handling all aspects of intellectual property litigation, including opposition/cancellation proceedings for trademarks and patents, infringement and unfair competition, including patent infringement analysis and counseling on anti-competitive actions, dispute settlement mediation involving intellectual property rights, and anti-piracy programs and intellectual property enforcement cases, including border control measures.

Membership in International & Local Organizations

The Firm is a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA), Association Internationale Pour La Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI), ASEAN Intellectual Property Association (AIPA), Licensing Executives Society (LES) International and LES Philippines, Fédération Internationale Des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle (FICPI), Intellectual Property Association of the Philippines (IPAP), Intellectual Property Foundation, and the Council to Combat Counterfeiting and Piracy of Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks (COMPACT).

We also have an extensive network of international correspondents enabling us to address the IP requirements of our clients even in other jurisdictions, resulting in a global reach.