COPYRIGHT, trademark, patent and design filings grew by 2 percent in 2025, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (Ipophl) said on Tuesday.
A total of 53,231 applications were processed last year, higher than the 52,257 in 2024.
The expansion was attributed to an 8.3-percent year-on-year increase in patent applications, alongside double-digit growth in utility model and industrial design filings at 20.6 percent and 30.2 percent, respectively.
“[This] reflects a growing recognition of IP protection as a key strategy for competitiveness in a fast-paced digital economy,” Ipophl Acting Director General Nathaniel Arevalo said.
Trademark applications reached 44,308 despite a slight 0.5 percent contraction from 2024.
Resident applications totaled 26,229, down 0.8 percent in the previous year, while non-resident filings numbered 18,079, down 0.2 percent.
For industry, pharmaceuticals led trademark filings at 6,444 (9.2 percent); followed by advertising, business management and office functions, 5,981 (8.6 percent); and scientific and technological apparatus and instruments, 5,384 (7.7 percent).
Applications for patents reached 4,486, up 8.3 percent from 2024. Non-resident filings comprised the majority at 3,479, up 4.3 percent, while resident filings totaled 1,007, up 25.1 percent.
By field of technology, pharmaceuticals led with 794 applications (24.9 percent); followed by digital communication (433 applications, 13.6 percent); and biotechnology (170 applications, 5.3 percent).
Filings for utility models rose to 1,918, up 20.6 percent compared to 2024, driven by resident applications at 1,848, up 20.4 percent, while non-resident filings totaled 70, up 25.0 percent.
Food chemistry dominated with 243 filings (51.5 percent of the share); followed by basic materials chemistry (29 filings, 6.1 percent); and electrical machinery (19 filings, 4 percent).
Industrial design filings rose sharply to 2,576, up 30.2 percent, with resident filings, up 46.4 percent to 1,587, and non-resident filings growing 10.5 percent to 989.
The top categories were means of transport or hoisting (377 filings, 19.2 percent); packages and containers for the transport or handling of goods (219 filings, 3.9 percent); and recording and communication equipment (134 filings, 6.8 percent).
Deposits for copyrighted works expanded by 2.8 percent to 6,736 on the back of stronger awareness of Ipophl’s copyright registration services and the importance of registration.
A breakdown of copyright deposits shows that books, pamphlets, articles, e-books, audiobooks, comics, novels and other writings dominated with 4,918 deposits (73.0 percent).
Computer programs, software, games and applications (664 deposits, 9.9 percent) and musical compositions (286 deposits, 4.2 percent) followed.
Ipophl, an ex officio member of the National Innovation Council, attributed the 2025 momentum to a deepening culture of innovation, supported by its programs, such as the innovation and technology support office (ITSO) program, which enables universities and research institutions to translate research into protected, market-ready assets.
In 2025, the ITSO network of 103 members recorded strong growth in filings and increased commercialization activity, which totaled 3,242, up 43.7 percent from 2,257 in 2024.
“People are learning to better protect, manage and extract value from their IP assets. Enhanced IP capabilities are enabling this shift from creation to commercialization, ultimately creating jobs, growing enterprises and driving higher-value economic activity,” Arevalo said.
