The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines approved on 13 May 2023 the application by the Guimaras Mango Growers and Producers Development Cooperative (“GMGPDC”), making Guimaras mangoes the first registered geographical indication (“GI”) in the Philippines. This was pursuant to the GI Rules & Regulations (“Rules”) published in 2022.   The Intellectual Property Code recognizes

The Department of Energy is set to bid out 11,600 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (“RE”) capacities under the Second Round of the Green Energy Auction (“GEA”) or GEA2 in June 2023. The GEA is a competitive process to select eligible RE plants and aims to promote the growth of the RE industry in the

The Philippine Intellectual Property Office (“IPO”) recently promulgated IPOPHL Memorandum Circular No. 2023-001, otherwise known as the Trademark Regulations of 2023, introducing significant changes to the rules and regulations governing trademarks, service marks, trade names, and marked or stamped containers.  It amended the Revised Trademark Regulations of 2017 Memorandum Circular No. 17-010 or and the

In Ginebra San Miguel, Inc. v. Director of the Bureau of Trademarks, G.R. No. 196372/G.R. No. 210224/G.R. No. 216104/G.R. No. 219632, (9 August 2022), the Supreme Court held that “GINEBRA” is not a generic mark, but a descriptive mark that has become a distinctive mark through secondary meaning. It was argued that “GINEBRA” cannot be registered since it is

The Supreme Court en banc has affirmed the right of the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Inc. (FILSCAP) to collect royalties over copyrighted works of its member artists. FILSCAP is a non-profit society of composers, authors, and publishers that owns public performance rights over the copyrighted musical works of its members. It also

Celina Marie T. PanaliganAssociate On 24 January 2023, the Supreme Court en banc issued a Resolution approving the (1) amended guidelines to validate compliance with the jurisdictional requirements in petitions for declaration of absolute nullity of marriage, annulment of voidable marriage, and legal separation, and (2) amendments to Section 4 of A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC and

The Philippine Intellectual Property Office (“IPO”) recently promulgated IPOPHL Memorandum Circular No. 2023-001, otherwise known as the Trademark Regulations of 2023, introducing significant changes to the rules and regulations governing trademarks, service marks, trade names, and marked or stamped containers.  It amended the Revised Trademark Regulations of 2017 Memorandum Circular No. 17-010 or and the

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia is proud to be awarded by Asian Legal Business as Law Firm of the Year in the Philippines in the following practice areas: Intellectual PropertyProject and InfrastructureTransportation and Logistics It is the fifth year that CMT was named Intellectual Property Firm of the Year, having previously won in 2016,  2017, 2019

The Philippine Intellectual Property Office (“IPOPHL”) issued on 27 May 2022 Memorandum Circular No. 2022-013 (“MC 2022-013”) amending  the Rules and Regulations on Inter Partes Proceedings (“Rules”). The amendments to the Rules shall take effect and apply to all inter partes cases, including appeals to the BLA Director, filed starting 30 June 2022:   Filing

 Charnnel Shane Thomas v. Rachel Trono and The Republic of the Philippines, G.R. No. 241032 In December 2021, the Philippine Supreme Court denied with finality the Motion for Reconsideration filed by the Solicitor General’s Office (“OSG”) from its Decision nullifying the bigamous marriage between an American and a Filipina, by virtue of the American citizen’s

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia (CMT) was recognized by Asia IP Awards 2021 as Copyright Firm of the Year for the Philippines for the 7th time. Asia IP is the region’s leading source of intellectual property news and analysis for IP companies and law firms and Asia IP Awards honors law firms with the highest standards

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (“IPOPHL”) issued on 19 October 2021 Memorandum Circular No. 2021-025 which is an Advisory on Unaccredited Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) (“Advisory”). CMOs are organizations that exercise and enforce copyright or related rights on behalf of its members. The functions of the CMOs include negotiating and granting licenses to

27 March 2023 – Advisory No. 2023-0012: Effectivity of Special Privileges Under Fortuitous Events Until December 31, 2022 Only PHILHEALTH informs all members and beneficiaries, partner health care providers and other stakeholders of the cessation of special privileges due to fortuitous, pursuant to Proclamation No. 57, s. 2022, the period of State Calamity throughout the

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (“DENR”) has issued Department Administrative Order No. (“DAO”) 2021-26, providing the rules and regulations governing the establishment, harvesting, and transport of bamboo. DAO 2021-26 aims to encourage the establishment of bamboo plantations and to promote the sustainable use of bamboo-based industries in the Philippines, specifically: a. increase the

Join us on 29 June 2021 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for Episode 7 of the Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution (OADR) Webinar Series, Season 2 and learn about Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for Business from Atty. Elmar B. Galacio of the Philippine International Center for Conflict Resolution, an OADR-accredited ADR provider organization. To

Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia Senior Partner Patricia A. O. Bunye, a leading lawyer in the Philippine mining industry, provides answers to key questions on Philippine mining laws and regulations, as well as the latest developments in the Philippine mining industry in the 2021 Philippine Chapter of Lexology’s Getting the Deal Through – Mining. The Philippine