Know and Protect Your Intellectual Property Rights

Filipinos are known for being creative and ingenious. The country has been producing good music, books, artworks, as well as innovative inventions in the field of science and technology. Each of these creations belongs to a certain author or inventor. However, getting hold of total ownership for creations and inventions requires certain responsibility on the author or creator’s side.

It’s not enough that you are gifted with intellect and talent. It is your responsibility to know how to protect the product of your intellect. You have the right to enjoy and make full use of your creations as well as the right to share your creations.

There’s a law to protect your Intellectual Property Rights – the Republic Act No. 8293 –

known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

Intellectual Property is any creation of the human mind or intellect. It can be an original or derivative literary and artistic works (e.g. music, movie, books, paintings, etc.). It can also be an invention or industry properties (e.g. medicine, layout, etc.)

Literary and artistic works and related rights of performers, producers, and broadcasters are covered by the copyright. On the other hand, industrial property rights include patents, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks, service marks and geographic indications, layout designs of integrated circuits, and undisclosed information or trade secret.

For example, if you’re a writer and you’ve published a book, the moment you’ve created a book, you automatically get the full right to reproduce, communicate, alter, abridge, translate, distribute, or rent out your work. There’s no registration needed with copyright however it is required that copies of the copyrighted material be deposited at the National Library or Supreme Court.

On the other hand, if you’re a scientists or inventor, you must be discreet in filing your application for industrial property right. The game is not a matter of who was the first to invent but rather who was the first to file the application.

If you’re able to protect your Intellectual Property Rights, you help your industry grow and become competitive. By registering your intellectual property, you can earn great financial compensation and global recognition just like, Mr. Roberto del Rosario. Because of his prudence to have his invention – the Sing-Along-System – patented, he won the rights over his invention when another company tried to copy his product during the effective period of his work’s patent.

With the advent of growth in the knowledge –based economy, we must understand that protecting ownership of our creations or inventions has great contribution to the local economic development. Getting copyright or industrial Intellectual Property Rights do not merely benefit our self in terms of financial and moral ascendancy. We must realize that we are also contributing in the development of our country.

You can have the competitive advantage in the industry you belong if you know how to protect your Intellectual Property Rights.

Don’t be left behind! Be recognized and have the moral ascendancy to own your intellectual property! Don’t let other people take advantage of your creations!

To value your intellectual property at the maximum degree, you must have the absolute ownership of your creation. Such could only be done if you’re informed of your rights and if you’ve worked to get full protection of your rights.

To know more about your Intellectual Property Rights, log on to www.ipophil.gov.ph.

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