The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated what is now clearly inevitable: the migration of traditional brick and mortar establishments into the digital realm. But as e-commerce becomes more pervasive, there is greater inducement for copycats to ride on the goodwill of established online platforms, products and brands. Moreover, as “necessity is the mother of invention,” the pandemic has triggered, and will continue to stimulate, innovations in various fields, including pharmaceutical, medical, telecommunications, and grassroots technologies.
Given these scenarios, the question is: Is patent protection still relevant during these extraordinary times?
Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrania Senior Partner Patricia A. O. Bunye, Partner Rowanie A. Nakan, and Associate Raiza Alexis D. Radoc summarize the emerging patent trends in the Philippines during the pandemic, including how the IPO has adjusted to facilitate intellectual property rights protection. The full article may be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/y4yngc6a