Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia has a strong team of IP lawyers in Manila. The firm is active on a broad range of mandates, from IP commercialisation to trade mark opposition disputes. The team is well versed in IP portfolio management and copyright and patent commercialisation. The firm regularly acts for both Philippine and international clients, offering expertise in a diverse array of sectors, including technology, art and consumer goods. Key clients include Philippine Department of Science and Technology, In-N-Out Burgers and Fundacion Sansó.

In this knowledge-based age, the protection, enforcement and commercialization of Intellectual Property rights are indispensable to economic development  Their lawyers are best known for their ability to provide excellent services covering the full spectrum of IP practice.

Their IP practice includes:

Prosecution of applications for the registration of trademarks and patents (inventions, utility models, industrial designs) and applications for issuance of copyright deposit;

Protection of business models, trade secrets and undisclosed information; IP commercialization, which includes negotiating, drafting and reviewing agreements for licensing and franchising;

Registering technology transfer agreements with the Documentation, Information and Technology Transfer Bureau;

Conduct of IP due diligence and audit of IP assets;

Registration of food, cosmetics and drugs with the Food and Drug Administration;

Implementing border control measures;

Addressing parallel import issues;

Handling administrative, civil and criminal cases on trademark, copyright and patent infringement and unfair competition;

Handling domain name disputes;

Anti-piracy programs and intellectual property enforcement cases, including market survey, test-buy and evidence-gathering.

Their IP Department has the unique capability of providing value-added services, like patent drafting and IP litigation, without need of outsourcing work to external consultants or general litigators.