INTELLECTUAL property (IP) filings in the Philippines reached a record high in 2025, supported by higher patent, utility model, and industrial design filings, indicating stronger innovation activities.
Total filings for patents, trademarks, utility models, and industrial designs reached 53,231 in 2025, up 2.0% from 52,257 in 2024.
The 8.3% year-on-year increase in patent applications and double-digit growth rates in utility model and industrial design filings, respectively at 20.6% and 30.2%, drove the expansion, reflecting increased activity in developing inventions, practical solutions, and product designs, respectively.
“The new record in IP filings reflects a growing recognition of IP protection as a key strategy for competitiveness in a fast-paced digital economy. The sustained rise in applications, particularly in innovation-driven categories, points to accelerating innovation and a stronger appreciation of the need to protect IP assets,” said IPOPHL Acting Director General (ADG) Nathaniel S. Arevalo.
An ex-officio member of the National Innovation Council, IPOPHL attributed the 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.
The agency also highlighted its continuing efforts to raise IP awareness and build the capacity of innovators, designers, creators, and entrepreneurs, from application to valuation and commercialization.
“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,” ADG Arevalo added.
Patent filings
Patent filings reached 4,486, up 8.3% from 2024. Non-resident filings comprised the majority at 3,479, up 4.3%, while resident filings totaled 1,007, up 25.1%.
By field of technology, pharmaceuticals led with 794 applications (24.9%), followed by digital communication with 433 (13.6%) and biotechnology at 170 (5.3%).
Utility models
Utility model filings grew to 1,918, up 20.6%, driven largely by resident applications at 1,848, up 20.4%, while non-resident filings totaled 70, up 25.0%.
Food chemistry dominated with 243 filings (51.5%), followed by basic materials chemistry at 29 (6.1%) and electrical machinery at 19 (4.0%).
Industrial designs
Industrial design filings rose sharply to 2,576, up 30.2%, with resident filings increasing 46.4% to 1,587 and non-resident filings growing 10.5% to 989.
The top categories were means of transport or hoisting with 377 or 19.2%; packages and containers for the transport or handling of goods at 219 (3.9%), and recording and communication equipment at 134 (6.8%).
Trademarks
Trademark filings reached 44,308 in 2025, maintaining a high level of activity despite a slight 0.5% contraction. Resident applications totaled 26,229, down 0.8%, while non-resident filings reached 18,079, down 0.2%.
Pharmaceuticals led trademark filings at 6,444 (9.2%), followed by advertising, business management, and office functions at 5,981 (8.6%), and scientific and technological apparatus and instruments with 5,384 (7.7%).
Overall, trademark filing activity remained resilient, with domestic filings broadly stable, amid a more cautious business environment as reflected in the slower-than-expected 4.4% GDP growth in 2025.
Copyright
Deposits for copyrighted works[1] expanded by 2.8% 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%). This was followed by computer programs, software, games, and applications with 664 (9.9%) and musical compositions with 286 (4.2%).
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
