For its 8th Module, DTI Rizal through the Collaborative Harnessing Assistance for Mentoring Program for SMEs (CHAMPS) conducted “Understanding Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights & Trade Secrets” Webinar last June 29, 2022 and was joined by 37 attendees on the Zoom Meeting Room consisting of CHAMPS Beneficiaries of current and past seasons, other entrepreneurs, DTI Rizal Staff, and other government and private partners. The webinar was also simultaneously broadcasted on the CHAMPS Season 3 Private Facebook Group for beneficiaries having trouble accessing Zoom.
Business Development Division Chief Sharon F. Dioco, first thanked Mr. Marlo Carag and Engr. Maria Teresa Laggui of IPO for the continued partnership. To the participants, Ms. Dioco stressed the importance of having their intellectual property registered, as it is a very important business asset that owners worked hard for.
Business Counselor Johanna Faye Javier of Negosyo Center Cardona refreshed the participants’ mind of their previous session on Branding not more than a month prior and asked them to treat the day’s module as a continuation. She then turned the spotlight over to the speaker, Mr. Marlo Carag, Assistant Head of Field Operations Unit of IPO Philippines.
Mr. Carag started his presentation by clarifying that IP registration protects the expressions of business ideas and not the ideas themselves and how having it registered protects and benefits the original creator. He then proceeded to discussing the differences between patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, which one to apply for depending on the expressed idea that an individual wants to register and presented examples for better understanding. He also presented the application process, fees, and Juana Make a Mark, a program made to encourage MSMEs to register their expressed ideas wherein registration fees are waived for trademark registration. Participants also had an opportunity to raise their questions and other concerns to which Mr. Carag answered.
Collaborative Harnessing Assistance for Mentoring Program for SMEs (CHAMPS) Rizal is a local mentoring program designed to groom Rizal-based MSMEs to qualify for flagship programs of DTI such as Kapatid Mentor ME and One Town, One Product. END