The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said it expects a continued reduction in the resolution time of intellectual property violation (IPV) cases following the streamlining of procedures for qualifying IPV disputes.
Under the rules and regulations on Administrative Complaints for Violation of Laws Involving Intellectual Property Rights (IPV Rules), IPOPHL, through the Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA), introduced the Rules of Procedure on Resolution of Actions without Provisional Remedies in IP Cases with Delimited Damages (RAPID Rules).
The RAPID Rules provide a simplified path for IPV cases involving claims for damages between P200,000 and P500,000, where no provisional remedies are sought.
Key features of the RAPID Rules include provisions on prohibited pleadings, email filing formats, the requirement to submit physical copies of the Complaint and Answer after electronic filing, the option for online hearings, inclusion of evidentiary matters in initial pleadings, and a limit of five hearing dates per party.
The streamlined procedure uses the same filing fees as regular IPV cases, providing an efficient solution without imposing additional financial burdens on litigants. “The RAPID Rules offer an alternative path for stakeholders to resolve disputes and protect their IP rights while seeking delimited damages,” said IPOPHL director-general Brigitte da Costa Villaluz.