Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Patent Infringement in the Philippines: How Claims Define Protection
Philippine patent infringement hinges on claim interpretation. The Supreme Court's Tuna Processors ruling clarifies direct and indirect infringement.
Copyright Assignment and Forgery: What the Supreme Court Ruled
A forged Deed of Assignment does not transfer copyright ownership, and using the work anyway can lead to infringement liability.
Copyright Infringement: Playing Music in Commercial Establishments Without a License
Philippine Supreme Court rules commercial establishments need music licenses. Learn about copyright infringement, FILSCAP, and royalty obligations.
Cable TV and Copyright: When Retransmission Becomes Infringement
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on cable operators' liability for copyright infringement through videoke channel retransmission.
Restaurants Infringe Copyright by Playing Radio Broadcasts Without a License
The Supreme Court rules that restaurants playing radio broadcasts as background music without a FILSCAP license commit copyright infringement.
Navigating Trademark Infringement: How Similar Marks Are Treated in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when similar marks cause confusion and damage, rejecting blanket application of prior rulings in trademark disputes.
Unfair Competition and Trade Name Confusion: The Paperone Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when a corporate name can amount to unfair competition under the Intellectual Property Code, even without trademark infringement.
Trademark Infringement and Contempt: When Corporate Names and Court Orders Collide
The Supreme Court clarifies that good faith compliance with an injunction order cannot be punished as indirect contempt, even if a corporate name contains a challenged mark.
Trademark Infringement and Probable Cause: When the Secretary of Justice Abuses Discretion
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may override the Secretary of Justice's dismissal of trademark infringement complaints for grave abuse of discretion.
Finality of Judgment vs Probable Cause: Balancing Justice in Trademark Infringement Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that a final judgment quashing search warrants binds courts, but probable cause for prosecution may still stand.
Trademark Infringement Mootness Doctrine and the Dissolution of Preliminary Injunctions
When a final judgment on the merits is rendered, an ancillary preliminary injunction dissolves, rendering appeals on the writ moot.
Supreme Court: Selling Pirated Software Alone Is Copyright Infringement
The Supreme Court rules that merely selling pirated software constitutes copyright infringement under PD 49, reversing the Court of Appeals' restrictive reading.
Suspension of Arraignment, DOJ Review, and the Right to Speedy Trial in Copyright Cases
Explaining when courts may suspend arraignment pending DOJ review and how delay affects the right to speedy trial in copyright infringement cases.
Upholding Search Warrants in Copyright Infringement Cases: Balancing Rights and Due Process
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may quash search warrants in software piracy cases, and when they must uphold them.
Trademark Infringement Search Warrants: Probable Cause in IP Cases Explained
Supreme Court clarifies the standard of probable cause for search warrants in trademark infringement and unfair competition cases under the IP Code.
Protecting Trademarks: Unauthorized Refilling Constitutes Infringement And Unfair Competition
Unauthorized refilling of LPG cylinders bearing registered trademarks is trademark infringement and unfair competition, the Supreme Court ruled.
Trademark Infringement: Why Likelihood of Confusion Is the Core Element
The Supreme Court acquits a jeans tailor of trademark infringement, explaining why likelihood of confusion is the heart of the offense.
Dominancy Test Prevails in Philippine Trademark Infringement Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that the dominancy test governs trademark infringement, focusing on dominant features rather than overall differences.
Unregistered Trade Names Protected Under Philippine IP Law: Coffee Partners v. San Francisco Coffee
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that unregistered trade names are protected from infringement under RA 8293, requiring only prior use in commerce.
LPG Refilling and Trademark Protection: Delineating Criminal Liability in Corporate Actions
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers face criminal liability for trademark infringement in LPG refilling operations.
Copyright Infringement and Prescription: What Retailers Should Know
A look at how filing a complaint with the DOJ interrupts prescription, and what it means for retailers accused of selling counterfeit goods.
Intellectual Property Rights and the Scope of Search Warrants in Trademark Infringement Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court defined the proper scope of search warrants in trademark infringement cases involving intellectual property rights.
Upholding Search Warrants in Intellectual Property Cases: The Yao v. People Ruling
The Supreme Court affirms search warrants issued in trademark infringement cases, clarifying probable cause and warrant requirements under Philippine law.
Trademark Infringement Courts Retain Jurisdiction Despite Pending Trademark Cancellation Proceedings
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that courts can hear trademark infringement cases even while cancellation proceedings are pending before the intellectual property office.