DAGUPAN CITY – The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) launched a help desk on Tuesday, June 27 located at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Pangasinan Provincial Office in this city.
DTI-Pangasinan provincial director Natalia Dalaten said the help desk will assist micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Pangasinan who would like to register for trademarks, copyrights and patents.
“Ang pagkakaroon ng IPO help desk sa ating opisina ay naglalayon na makatulong sa ating mga MSMEs na mas mapadali ang pagpaparehistro ng kanilang trademark, copyright, at patent sa Intellectual Property Office,” Dalaten said.
Dalaten said being registered in IPO is important because it protects their business against imitation or any other unlawful act.
“Kung rehistrado ang inyong negosyo sa IPO hindi magagaya ang inyong pangalan, logo o design at iba pa so napakahalaga po nitong registration sa IP upang maprotektahan po ninyo ang inyong negosyo,” Dalaten said during the Pantongtongan Tayo virtual presser of PIA Pangasinan.
She said an IPO officer will cater to the MSMEs’ application for registration and IP concerns.
However, Dalaten clarified that the IPO officer will only be available every two days in a week and the schedule of the IPO helpline desk will be posted regularly at the DTI Pangasinan’s official Facebook page.
She also advised all MSMEs who will avail of the services of the IPO helpline desk to bring with them the application requirements such as filled-out forms, sample logos in printed and soft copy format, and details about their designs.
“Application forms are available at the DTI-Pangasinan Provincial Office located on the 2nd floor of Star Building in Arellano Street, Dagupan City from Mondays to Fridays, except holidays, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.,” Dalaten said.
She said the establishment of the IPO help desk office in Pangasinan is geared towards the geographical indication of all the products uniquely produced or processed in Pangasinan.
She disclosed that there are only seven applications from Pangasinan MSMEs for intellectual properties that are submitted in IPO this year.
“Ito po ay dahil sa ngayon, hindi pa rin po nakikita ng mga MSMEs ‘yong kagandahan ng pagiging rehistrado sa IPO,” Dalaten clarified.
Likewise, she called on all MSMEs in the province to register their business in IPO to protect their intellectual property (IP) rights to gain or maintain a competitive edge. BY: ELSHA MARIE S. ARGUEL
