Philippines’ IPOPHL to Offer Patent Services to Brunei

MANILA – The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has announced a significant collaboration with Brunei Darussalam’s Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO), whereby IPOPHL will provide patent services, marking a new phase in intellectual property cooperation between the two nations.

According to Philippines News Agency, under the guidance of Director General Rowel Barba, the agreement to process up to 200 patent applications annually over the next five years follows a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last December with BruIPO Registrar Attorney General Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Ahmad Bin Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa. This arrangement is unprecedented as it is the first instance of IPOPHL providing a core service to another intellectual property office, highlighting the trust and confidence in IPOPHL’s efficiency and expertise, particularly in emerging technologies.

Barba highlighted IPOPHL’s position as one of the fastest intellectual property offices in Southeast Asia in processing patent applications and its distinction as the first in the region to implement a patent quality review system that complies with international standards. Beyond processing patent applications, IPOPHL will also offer reexamination and opinions in case of opposition to a patent amendment and extend capacity-building activities to BruIPO to foster adherence to international best practices in patent search and examination.

This partnership is celebrated as a step forward in innovation and recovery efforts within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) post-pandemic, setting a global example for meaningful collaboration in the intellectual property domain.