TAGUIG - Deputy Director General Ann Claire C. Cabochan recently graced the American Intellectual Property Association (AIPLA)’s Women in IP Law Global Networking Event to speak about the importance of intellectual property (IP) in enhancing trade, according to the official website of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

“As someone who took a deep dive into trade, I agree with the view that development of trade – the bulk of which is borderless – can be adversely affected by the standards adopted by countries to protect IP rights, which is widely divergent. Furthermore, a weak enforcement of such rights encourages trade in counterfeit and pirated goods,” Cabochan said.

She explained the importance as well of the multilateral system, particularly in upholding the objectives of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, which lays down the minimum standards for protection of IP rights as well as procedures and remedies for their enforcement.

To help rights holders become competitive through their IP, Cabochan underscored the support needed to help them develop and register their IP assets.

“This will ensure their competitiveness as their innovative products and services stand out in the market. Furthermore, strengthening this ecosystem will allow innovation to thrive, thereby enabling growth engines to accelerate and – knowing that foreign investors also attach importance to the protection of their IP assets – help increase the inflow of FDIs,” she added.

The AIPLA Women in IP Law is an annual event focused on celebrating and showcasing the groundbreaking contributions of women in the field of IP, highlighting their leadership and innovation across various sectors.

This year’s theme, “Cultivating Leaders” promotes nurturing and cultivating future leaders in the IP profession. In attendance were female IP practitioners, brand owners, and representatives of academic institutions and various industries.

The event was part of a broader global initiative, with events taking place in different countries such as ArgentIna (Buenos Aires), Canada (Toronto), Ireland (Dublin), Paraguay (Asunción), Spain (Madrid), United Kingdom (London, Leeds, Manchester), and the United States (various cities such as Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, Raleigh, Washington DC), among others.