To streamline its administrative procedures, the Office of the Director General (ODG) of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) now accepts the online filing of requests, motions, and pleadings in relation to the appealed cases filed before it. The salient portions of the circular are as follows:
- The ODG exercises exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all decisions rendered by the Director of Legal Affairs, Director of Patents, Director of Trademarks, Director of Copyright and Other Related Rights, and Director of the Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau.
- All interested parties may choose to file a request, motion, or pleading through the e-mail address of
the ODG at odgappeals@ipophil.gov.ph. - The online filing only applies to requests, motions, and pleadings pertaining to appealed cases before the ODG. It shall not cover the filing of the initiatory pleading and motions for extension of time to file an appeal memorandum. In particular, online filing shall cover the following:
- requests for certified true copies of documents;
- motions for extension of time, other than motions for extension of time to file an appeal memorandum, to file the required pleading or communication;
- other motions that may require the issuance of interlocutory orders; and
- submission of comments, memorandum, or pleadings required by the ODG or incidental to appealed cases before the ODG.
- The parties shall still observe and follow the relevant timelines and periods in the IPOPHL Uniform Rules on Appeals.
- The requests, motions, and pleadings must be in PDF format.
- A party filing a request, motion, or pleading through the electronic mail address of the ODG may serve the other party concerned a copy of the request, motion or pleading through electronic means provided the other party concerned agrees thereto.
- Upon receipt of the request, motion, or pleading filed through the electronic mail address of the ODG, the party concerned shall be notified through the ODG electronic platform system of the action on the request, motion, or pleading, including the issuance of the relevant Statement of Account.
- The ODG shall continue to serve decisions, orders, and communications – other than the electronic issuance of the SOA – to the physical addresses on record of the parties concerned. The date of receipt by the party in its physical address shall be considered the official date of notice to the party concerned.
The full text of IPOPHL Memorandum Circular No. 2020-020 is available [here].