Despite the enhanced monsoon and widespread flooding experienced in Metro Manila, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) successfully held the first-ever Trademark Conference in the country (TMCon Philippines) on July 24-26, 2024 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Aura in Taguig City.

The Federis team, comprised of Atty. Montini Felicilda and Atty. Monica Bugayong, conducted product identification seminars for its longtime clients SHIMANO, SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, and FAST RETAILING CO., LTD. These seminars aimed to highlight the significance of distinguishing genuine products from counterfeits, curb counterfeiting, and encourage the public to report incidents of infringement.

Booths displaying genuine and counterfeit SHIMANO (bicycle parts), EPSON (ink), and UNIQLO (apparel) products were featured throughout the three-day event. Representatives of the firm further educated the attendees and government authorities on how to verify the authenticity of these products.

Themed “Leveraging Trademarks, Beyond Branding,” the TMCon is a landmark three-day event that gathered key stakeholders to explore the trademark ecosystem and encourage brand owners to maximize their trademark rights. The TMCon also explored significant emerging trends, best practices, and the latest updates on trademark-related jurisprudence in the Philippines. It likewise featured discussions between international and local trademark experts on topics of registration, protection, enforcement, valuation, and commercialization. Speakers included representatives from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), ASEAN IP Association, and notable practitioners from the Philippines.

The firm congratulates the IPOPHL on this landmark event and looks forward to the next trademark conference.