US Patent Agency Cites IPOPHL Influence in AsPac

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has been recognized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

- By CATHERINE TALAVERA

In a statement, IPOPHL said former undersecretary of commerce for IP and director of the USPTO Kathi Vidal attributed the achievements to the boost from the leadership of IPOPHL director general Rowel Barba.

"Your leadership on this achievement and on a range of other IP-related matters, has helped position IPOPHL as an influential IP office in the Asia-Pacific region and internationally," Vidal said in an official email correspondence.

Vidal underscored IPOPHL's achievement in securing USPTO designation as a competent International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty.