Encouraging handloom weavers in the Philippines to protect their products through Intellectual Property
Handloom weavers are a special type of job in the modern world as the making of unique patterns by hand is slowly forgotten with the development of society and machines capable of mass-producing these clothes. However, to protect jobs such as handloom weavers is to protect the culture of a people, a civilization with thousand years of development. Consequently, the IPOPHL is encouraging handloom weavers in the Philippines to protect their products through Intellectual Property registration.
During the 6th session of the 1st Philippine Handloom Weaving Conference hosted by the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Philippines of the DOST, handloom weavers from across the country expressed concerns about their creations being used without their permission or being claimed by others.
This is especially essential since weavers face several obstacles in keeping their own designs and the traditions that go with them, with some being culturally hijacked.
The unique designs and creations of handloom weavers are a special type of asset that needs to be protected, according to the official statement of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).
If registering for industrial design protection, the applicant, which is the handloom weavers in this case, will have the protection of the law to safeguard their unique design. Nobody will have the rights to manufacture clothes and furniture with a protected design even if they have the capability to make such products.
The handloom weavers will have the exclusive right to exclude others from making, using, and selling the patented/registered product. For industrial design, the IPOPHL grants applicants 15 year maximum period of protection.
However, as a trade for such a long protection period, the handloom weavers will have to share the technology and the patterns with the world, creating favorable opportunities for shady third parties to copy and take advantage of the info publicized. However, as mentioned above, if the infringement action does occur, the rights owners will be protected according to the Philippines IP law as well as international treaties on industrial design that the Philippines has joined in.
In such regard, it is crucial that the handloom weavers don’t accidentally disclose information of their unique patterns before officially filing for industrial design registration as the disclosure might make the application invalid, due to the design turning to public property, resulting in a lack of novelty or newness.
*** Other Articles***
– You can check FEE OF TRADEMARK IN Philippines HERE.
– You could visit here to see Procedure of Philippines Trademark Registration.
– You could visit here to check the required documents for filing trademark in Philippines.
– Other questions of trademark in Philippines here.
– You could also check the trademark fees in ASEAN countries here. All with affordable fees.
– You could also check the trademark fees in ASIA here. All with affordable fees.
Contact AAA IPRIGHT: Email: [email protected]
Or sending your inquiry by filling the form:
