| Description: |
In 2010 IPOPHL requested the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center to provide technical assistance in the establishment by IPOPHL of a locally administered arbitration option for IP disputes that could otherwise be submitted to the Philippines courts or to IPOPHL, as the case may be. Such assistance notably took the form of Center support of IPOPHL’s drafting of specific arbitration rules based upon the WIPO Arbitration Rules with amendments to reflect local laws and practice.
The Center also collaborated with IPOPHL in the provision of training programs, which included a session on arbitration undertaken in 2010 and a session on mediation undertaken in 2011.
Following this assistance, IPOPHL and WIPO in May 2014 concluded a Memorandum of Understanding recording the further intent to explore the options for the Center to act as administering authority of IP mediations primarily involving a least one party domiciled outside the Philippines, and additional training of local IP and ADR experts.
As part of this collaboration, IPOPHL and the Center now plan to organize two meetings to present the Center’s mediation service to potential users and to explain its operation to local IP and ADR experts, on April 15 and 16 respectively. The speakers in these meetings would include representatives of IPOPHL, experienced local mediators, Mr. Peter Moody (an experienced WIPO mediator based in the United Kingdom) and myself.
The meetings are aimed at potential users, IP lawyers, mediators and prospective users based in the Philippines, as well as IPOPHL staff.
The launch of the WIPO mediation option should strengthen national IP ADR capacity, which may assist the efficient functioning of the country’s IP system. The meetings should also contribute to the identification of additional neutrals for potential appointment under WIPO Rules. |