The Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) celebrated IP Week 2026 from April 13–16, coinciding with National IP Month in the Philippines and the lead-up to World IP Day on April 26, 2026. This year’s theme highlighted the transformative role of Intellectual Property (IP) in sports, bringing together industry leaders, experts, and innovators to discuss the importance of protecting ideas and fostering creativity within the sports industry.
Day 1: IP and Sports: The Role of IP in the Sports Industry
The celebration began with an insightful online session on April 13, 2026, with over 200 attendees joining the discussion. Mr Richmond De Leon, Director of the Documentation, Information, and Technology Transfer Bureau (DITTB) of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), delivered the keynote speech. The session explored how IP supports growth and innovation in sports, including the development of sports technologies and performance-enhancing tools.
AIPO’s Director, Dr Jon Fernandez, emphasized that IP is the backbone of innovation and growth, while Director Ralph Jarvis Alindogan, JD of DITTB highlighted the value of creativity in sports, urging attendees to see sports not only as competition but also as a platform for innovation.
“IP serves as the cornerstone for enhancing the long-term growth and stability of the Philippine Sports Industry. By protecting innovation, IP encourages the continuous development of sports technologies and performance-enhancing tools.” — Richmond De Leon, DITTB
Day 2: Protecting the Innovation that Shapes the Game
On April 14, 2026, the Ateneo Escaler Hall hosted an on-site session, with more than 100 participants present and also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the IP Week Exhibit. The day featured Atty Mickey Ingles, a prominent sports and tax lawyer, and Ms Ada Milby, President of the Philippine Rugby Football Union, who shed light on the significance of IP in protecting athletes’ names, images, and likenesses.
“If you don’t control your IP, you don’t control your revenue.” — Ada Milby, President, Philippine Rugby Football Union
Day 3: Esports and IP: Protecting Creativity in the Digital Arena
The spotlight shifted to Esports on April 15, with online experts Atty Darwin Angeles and Salvador Reyes Jr. discussing the growing importance of IP in the digital gaming world. Atty. Angeles highlighted how esports content creation, merchandising, and streaming are driving revenue, while Mr. Reyes focused on how open-source governance is encouraging innovation and fairness within the gaming community.
“Esports has placed the Philippines on the global map with its success, and it continues to be a major arena for creativity, innovation, and IP-driven revenue.” — Atty Darwin Angeles, MOSVELDTT Law
Day 4: IP Forward >> Ready, Set, Protect: IP in the World of Sports
The final day of IP Week, held on April 16, 2026, concluded with a panel discussion attended by over 300 participants. Atty Ginalyn Badiola of the Bureau of Trademarks, Atty Jeremy Bayaras of the Bureau of Copyright and Related Rights, Engr Kevin Facun discussed the importance of trademarks, copyrights, and patents in athlete branding and sports technologies, and Atty. Angelo Carlo Roxas, IP Consultant of IPOPHL focused on patents and enforcement challenges in sports technologies.
“We urge the public to support authentic merchandise and official broadcasts to sustain the livelihoods of Filipino athletes.” — Atty Ginalyn Badiola, Bureau of Trademarks, IPOPHL
Key Takeaways
Throughout the week, the central theme was clear: protecting intellectual property is crucial for the growth and sustainability of sports in the Philippines. Discussions focused on:
- The commercial value of IP in sports branding and merchandising.
- The need for enforcement against counterfeiting and ambush marketing.
- The role of IP in supporting long-term growth from grassroots innovation to elite-level commercialization.
A heartfelt thank you was extended to all speakers, participants, and collaborators, especially from Ms Vanessa Malapit, AIPO’s Head of the Protection & Education Group, for making IP Week 2026 a success.
“We hope that this week has enriched the knowledge of our participants and deepened their appreciation for the vital role of protecting their intellectual property in the world of sports.” — Vanessa Malapit, AIPO
To learn more about how intellectual property rights can help you and your innovation. Send us a message at aipo@ateneo.edu or message us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok) @ateneoipo.
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