The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) addressed the recent claims of a Filipino teacher solving the Goldbach conjecture and the twin prime conjecture, long-standing mathematical challenges. IPOPHL expressed pride in the potential achievement, which could elevate the country’s reputation in mathematics.
However, IPOPHL clarified that under the Intellectual Property Code of 1997, mathematical formulas are not protected by copyright or patents. Section 175 of Republic Act 8293 states that ideas, methods, and concepts cannot be copyrighted, while Section 22 excludes scientific theories and mathematical methods from patent protection.
IPOPHL emphasized that mathematical formulas, as facts, fall under the public domain and cannot be protected unless expressed uniquely. Manuscripts presenting such formulas can be copyrighted. IPOPHL encouraged creators to register their works with the Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights to secure certificates of copyright recordal. This ensures proper acknowledgment and protection of their intellectual contributions.
