The Philippines and members of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) signed recently the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (DLT), paving the way for an international regime that streamlines, standardizes and updates the rules on design protection.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said the treaty was signed on Nov. 21 during the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference in Riyadh.

IPOPHL said the treaty paves the way for a predictable and cost-efficient design application process by setting limits on application requirements. It also provides applicants’ flexibility by allowing multiple designs per filing and the representation of designs in various formats like drawings, photographs or, if allowed, video.

The DLT also set out minimal filing date requirements; a 12-month grace period for disclosures; a six-month option to keep their designs unpublished from the filing date; relief for missed deadlines; simplified renewal procedures; and promotion of e-filings and digital process —all crucial in reducing application pain points that lead to the loss of rights.

“Together with WIPO Member States, the Philippines shares the common goal that designers should be able to protect their work more easily and be given the bigger opportunity to scale up globally,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel Barba said.

“The goals of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty complement current efforts and long-term plans of the current administration in promoting and developing creative and innovative industries. This is especially important for developing and middle-income countries like ours, as it would aid us in our aspiration to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals as well as our very own Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028,” he added.