News & Updates

The Philippine Intellectual Property Office (“IPO”) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) Nos. 2020-013 and 2020-013A providing guidelines for its limited operations starting 25 May 2020 and announcing fresh extension of deadlines falling within the period of 16 March to 30 June 2020.

Under MC No. Nos. 2020-013 and 2020-013A, the IPO shall resume limited regular operations at its main office. A maximum of 40% of its workforce shall return to work while the rest continues working from home. To continue servicing its stakeholders, the following guidelines shall be implemented:

1. New and renewal applications for trademarks shall only be filed online through the IPO electronic filing system. Documents related to registered marks as well as pending trademark applications shall be transmitted only through eDocfile;
2. New applications for patent, utility model, industrial design emanating from or transmitted within the National Capital Region shall be filed online through the IPO electronic filing system except voluminous invention applications. Voluminous applications are those which exceed 250 pages, which may be filed manually or via mail or courier.
3. Scanned copies of required original documents shall be submitted through the online filing system in lieu of the originals. IPO may subsequently require submission of original documents;
4. Cashiering and documentary receiving operations at the IPO Main Office shall resume on 27 May 2020;
5. Extension of deadlines:
   1. Deadlines falling from 16 March 2020 to 31 March 2020 initially extended until 31 May 2020, are further extended until 30 June 2020;
   2. Deadlines falling from 01 April 2020 to 30 April 2020, initially extended for sixty (60) days, are further extended until 30 June 2020.
   3. Deadlines falling from 01 May 2020 to 30 June 2020 will be extended until 30 July 2020.
6. Scheduled hearings before the IPO shall remain suspended until 22 May 2020. These include mediation hearings unless the parties request for online hearing or conference. Hearings scheduled 25 May 2020 onwards, including online mediation, shall proceed unless otherwise advised.

Copies of MC Nos. 2020-013 and 2020-013A are available in the following links:

• MC Nos. 2020-013
• MC Nos. 2020-013A

For more information on this announcement, you may direct your concerns to [email protected].