Back to basics, then beyond: Week-long intellectual property course on patents enlightens the eager and inspires the innovative

Closing out June and kicking off July, the Patent Searching and Drafting Foundation Course was successfully held from 30 June to 4 July at the Faura Hall Audiovisual Room, hosted by Ateneo de Manila University through its Intellectual Property Office (AIPO). The program was organized by the Department of Innovation and Technology Transfer Bureau (DITTB) of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and supported by AIPO’s Protection and Education Group (PEG).

The week-long event opened its doors and enlightened the minds of the researchers, university students and professors, and many more present. The event sought to both build-up and strengthen one’s understanding of fundamental provisions of intellectual property law, highlight the importance of patent searching, and visualize the process of patent drafting – learnings shared by professionals in the intellectual property field.

Day one: Bridging the gap, moving up

The first day of the program focused on the basic foundations of intellectual property law, teaching attendees about the various manifestations of intellectual property – from copyrights to trademarks, from patents to industrial designs – and how governments protect each of them. From touching upon the intellectual property protection systems in place in the Philippines and beyond, to the importance of such systems in the global economies and their impacts on our local industries, the speakers of Day One set the stage for the next four days to come by building an appreciation and respect for intellectual property as a whole.

Days two and three: Laying the chips, testing the grips

The second day of the course placed emphasis on the crucial role of intellectual property strategies in the marketing and commercialization of a patent product. After a round of lectures from IPOPHL personnel, including Atty Martina Martin of IPOPHL, a workshop on a case study was given to event attendees. Working in groups, they put both their newfound knowledge and geared-up instincts to the test, face-to-face with a real-world scenario involving intellectual property protection and strategizing.

The third day opened with more lectures from our IPOPHL co-coordinators, showing participants the iterative patent searching process conducted by IPOPHL day-in and day-out, alongside underlining how crucial such a process is in securing the utmost protection and quality for a patent application. Another workshop was conducted in which the same groups would work together to formulate their own patent technologies, conduct patent searches, and provide key information in order to construct their own patent applications, building upon their gleanings from the previous days’ lectures and workshop.

Days four and five: Working smart, going far

The session on the fourth day honed participants’ skills and abilities in recognizing patent claims that were strong enough to pass the standard IPOPHL process of patent application and protection, and creating such claims on their own. Quoting IPOPHL IPR Specialist III Mr Dindo Umali, “When you draft your patent claim, highlight the technical advantage of the invention’s features” – which is what sets apart the many utility models from the fewer successful patents beyond mere novelty and non-obviousness.

The fifth and final day of the event wrapped up the whole course neatly, not only refreshing the participants’ heightened sense of intellectual property protection and proficiency in handling the processes that go into this, but also reminding them about the tools and providing them with the confidence to properly and continuously ideate and innovate.

The AIPO team thanks the mentors from IPOPHL, alongside the dozens of participants and partners, for joining in this event and the greater effort to educate and motivate the colorful, creative minds of the Filipino. The Foundation Course on Patent Searching and Drafting proudly showcases the AIPO and the IPOPHL’s dedication and drive to promote the appreciation of intellectual property and push the spirit of innovation forward.

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