Trademark Registration Process:

1. Filing of an application
File an application to the Bureau of Trademarks at the Intellectual Property Office of the
Philippines (IPOPHL). You will need to submit these requirements.
a. Filled-out application form – this includes the following:
 Request for application
 Applicant’s name and address
 Applicant’s nationality or state of residency, and the country or state where
the applicant has an established business
 If the applicant is a corporate or judicial entity, the state or country where it
was organized and is legally existing
 For foreign applicants, information on their Philippine representative
 Any claim of priority or claim of color
 Information on the goods and services for which the trademark is to be
applied
 Specimen of the trademark
b. Receipt of payment for application fees:
*SMALL *BIG
TYPE
ENTITY ENTITY
PHP PHP
Filing Fee (per class)
1,200 2,592
Claim of Color (per class) PHP 280 PHP 600
Publication PHP 900 PHP 960
PHP
Issuance of Certificate of Registration PHP 570
1,200
PHP
Declaration of Actual Use (3rd year) PHP 900
1,920
2nd Publication (Publication of Registration) PHP 900 PHP 960

*Small entity: with 100M worth of assets or less | *Big entity: with more than 100M worth of
assets

Note: Total charges may vary depending on the number of claims, classes and embodiments
applied. All fees are subject to 1% Legal Research Fund (LRF) as required by R.A. 3870. If
the fee is below P 1,000.00, the LRF is P 10.00.

Once filed and the necessary fees has been paid, the duty officer will examine the submitted
requirement for completeness. You will receive your application number afterward.

2. Search and Examination

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) will now search their database for
identical trademarks in the market or similar applications that they have. This will take some
time, and the usual wait is at least 6 months.

Included in this process is the examination of your trademark to check if it complies with the
rules and regulations. Aside from similarity to existing trademarks, it should not also be too
generic, deceptive, immoral, or scandalous; among other rules.
3. Publication in the IPO Philippines Gazette
If the trademark is approved, you will receive a notice and it will now be published in the
Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Gazette. This is to inform the public
about the application and give a chance for anyone to oppose the registration.

Any individual or company can oppose if it violates an existing trademark they have, or if they
find it grossly damaging to their reputation or business.

4. Registration Process (Duration Time)

The public is given up to 30 days to take action. If no opposition is received and verified by the
Director of the Bureau of Legal Affairs, the Intellectual Property Office will now issue the
Certificate of Registration.

You will receive a Notice of Allowance (NOA) and the first Publication for Opposition (PfO).

Next is the 2nd Publication for Opposition & Issuance of Certificate then next is to file
a Declaration of Actual Use (DAU), which occurs within 3 years after Issuance of Certificate.

The trademark will again be published in the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines
(IPOPHL) Gazette, which marks its official entry to the records. The certificate is valid for ten
(10) years and can be renewed after.

Note that Declaration of Actual Use is again filed on the 5th year and 10th year respectively.
Basically it is valid for ten (10) years and can be renewed after.

Lastly, to make sure that your business name and logos are worth the inconvenience of
applying for a trademark, it should be something that you’ll be proud of; something that
represents your vision and ideals for your company or business.