IP News

BNU Files First Online Trademark Application in Country
September 26, 2007

The Intellectual Property Office finally realized its dream of an online system for trademark application filings at around noon of January 19, 2005. Bengzon Negre Untalan’s office was the chosen site for the very first trademark application to be filed using the IPO’s online system.

Messrs. Anthony Ajero and Roger Tobongbanua of the IPO’s Management Information Systems Department were on hand to provide technical support and instructions on how to use the system. The system works in conjunction with Equitable PCI Bank’s electronic payment facility, and this feature was explained by EPCIB’s Assistant Manager, Ms. Farida Mendoza.

The first trademark application to be filed online was IP Manila Associate Inc.’s Device, featuring a wall rampart, a watch tower, and cannon. IP Manila is a private investigative firm that engages in intellectual property market research and consultancy services. Ana Marie Bartolome, the firm’s trademark paralegal, filled out the online application form and completed the process by paying the filing fees through EPCIB’s electronic payment facility.

Atty. Ferdinand Negre, having been a trademark examiner early in his legal career, commented, “this is a momentous event, and we applaud the IPO for implementing this process. Online filing of applications is another step in streamlining the examination process which will lead to faster, more efficient transactions, thereby improving the IPO’s delivery of services to the public.”

“We wholeheartedly support the online filing system,” said Atty. Anthony Bengzon.

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