THE INTELLECTUAL Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) opened another satellite office in Naga City yesterday, Sept. 4, the second in the Bicol Region and 14th outside Metro Manila. The new branch is located at the Department of Trade and Industry’s Camarines Sur office. “The swift expansion this year is in line with our goal to build a groundswell in IP awareness, especially outside of Metro Manila. We’re expanding our reach to these new territories to advance the use of IP to businesses, inventors, and any IP creator for their competitive advantage and spur innovation,” IPOPHL Director General Josephine R. Santiago said in a statement. “At the same time, we’re striving to push this ‘first-mover’ filing mindset in trademarks. We are encouraging businesses to apply for registration of trademarks prior to registering as a business or even prior to commercialisation,” she added. Naga is the 3rd satellite office launched by IPOPHL this year after Dumaguete City in May, and Zamboanga City in August.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR