Negosyanteng Lagunense, IPO-protektado!

Victoria, Laguna — The Department of Trade and Industry – Laguna Provincial Office (DTI-Laguna) kicks start 2023 webinar series thru understanding intellectual property in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

DTI-Laguna successfully started its webinar series for 2023 by providing Laguna micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with a comprehensive discussion on understanding intellectual property. The aforementioned webinar was conducted thru DTI’s Small and Medium Enterprise Roving Academy (SMERA) and Negosyo Center, in partnership with IPOPHL held on 20 January 2023 via the Zoom conferencing platform.

Mr Joel Caalaman, Intellectual Property Field Operations Specialist from IPOPHL CALABARZON, served as the Resource Person for the said event. He started by introducing to the 25 Laguna MSMEs in Zoom the IPOPHL as an organization and its functions. He talked about the intellectual property cycle and discussed essential points on how to protect your brands, trademarks, and patents.

In addition to, Caalaman also presented a trademark registration incentive program called “Juana Make a Mark” that allows eligible MSMEs to have their trademarks registered at a reduced cost. He emphasized that, through this program, IPOPHL aims to instill the ‘first-mover filing’ mindset that is to file for trademark registration before establishing a business to ensure availability of and secure exclusivity over the mark before the enterprise incurs expenses related to promoting its goods or services such as for packaging and marketing.

Thru the strengthened partnership of IPOPHL and DTI, an inclusive intellectual property system is continuously being built to serve the needs of the Filipinos, particularly the MSMEs. DTI-Laguna Negosyo Center Business Counselor Catherine Morales then encouraged Laguna MSMEs to grab the opportunity such as the “Juana Make a Mark” program and free business consultancy services. Interested applicants can know more about IPOPHL and its services including the location of its satellite offices thru this link: https://www.ipophil.gov.ph/ (CPMorales, DTI-Laguna).