Brief History and Mandate

The UIPO was established on 28 November 2012 by virtue of Office Order No. 445, s. 2012. It was confirmed by the PSU Board of Regents on 05 December 2012 under BOR Resolution No. 92, s. 2012.

Primarily, UIPO is mandated to implement the Intellectual Property (IP) Policy of the University in accordance with the provisions of the IP Code of the Philippines (RA 8293), as amended; and the Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009 (RA 10055).

UIPO’s goal is to improve the University’s intellectual property management system. To achieve this goal, it shall conduct inventory and valuation of intangible assets of the University and other academe-industry clients; maintain patent database for use of faculty, students, scientists, engineers, inventors, and corporate/industry clients; process applications for copyright, ISSN, ISBN, ISMN with the National Library of the Philippines; process applications for patent, utility model, industrial design, and trademark with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL); and assist in the commercialization of inventions.

While a lot of industries use IP to measure its leadership and growth, PSU shall use the IP system as tool to protect its original works from infringement and competition. This is important as the institution is challenged to refocus its research priorities to urbanization, industry, and services. The upcoming 2015 ASEAN integration requires a strong IP system in the country to protect locally-produced products and services.

UIPO’s Accomplishments

In 2013, UIPO has become an Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSOTM) pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement signed between PSU President Jeter S Sespeñe and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Director General Ricardo R Blancaflor. As an IP infrastructure under the ITSO Network, Palaweño scientists and engineers can apply for registration of patent, utility model, industrial design and trademark through the university.

A revised IP policy handbook was drafted by UIPO staff and approved by the PSU BOR on 31 July 2014 under Resolution No. 51 S. 2014. This would streamline the operations of IP registration as well as royalty and revenue sharing for commercialized IPs to attract more faculty- and staff-authors/inventors. With the revised IP policy, fresh collaboration with industry partners for new technology, product and process development is expected very soon. Effective July 1, 2014, UIPO has subscribed to Thomson Innovation patent database software from IPOPHL to boost its capability to provide patent search/ d r a f t i n g and related IP industry needs.