IPOPHL rises to third most innovative IP office in the world
14 January 2026
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has been named the world’s third most innovative intellectual property office, highlighting its sustained investments in digital systems and institutional capacity-building.
According to the World Trademark Review’s (WTR) 2026 IP Office Innovation Ranking, IPOPHL tied for third place with the IP offices of Benelux, Japan and Thailand. They followed the European Union and United Kingdom, which shared the top spot, and Australia, the Republic of Korea and Singapore, which placed second.
The 2026 ranking, which evaluated more than 40 jurisdictions worldwide, marks a significant rise for IPOPHL. The Office ranked ninth in 2022 and 13th in the 2024 report. It now stands second in Asia and ASEAN, with only six Asian offices and three ASEAN offices making it into the global top 20.
Acting Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo said the strong showing reflects IPOPHL’s long-term strategy of investing in end-to-end online systems, digital filing and search platforms, and internal tools that enhance examination quality and speed. These efforts are supported by continuous capacity-building for examiners and staff to keep pace with emerging technologies, evolving business models and the growing digitalization of IP transactions.
WTR is a London-based intelligence platform that provides daily news, legal analysis and research on trademark law, brand strategy and global market trends. Its IP Office Innovation Ranking is a multi-year global assessment that measures how IP offices go beyond basic registration functions by delivering value-added services, including digital infrastructure, dispute resolution, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, enforcement collaboration and public engagement.
For the 2026 edition, WTR placed greater emphasis on the use of artificial intelligence, recognizing its expanding role in trademark administration. The ranking distinguishes between AI tools available to the public, such as search and filing systems, and those used internally to support examiners and streamline workflows.
Future-ready with AI
Arevalo shared that IPOPHL is working to integrate AI tools into its systems to assist with search, examination, classification and appeals. In November last year, the Office also issued guidelines aimed at strengthening the quality and consistency of patent examinations, particularly for AI-related technology applications.
In addition, IPOPHL is studying how AI tools may be legally and practically recognized in the creation of works, as well as the implications for copyright protection and enforcement.
“Looking ahead, IPOPHL is both shaping the framework for AI-generated works and harnessing AI within its own operations, positioning the Philippine IP system to be more efficient, adaptive and future-ready,” Arevalo said.
- Excel V. Dyquiangco
