🇵🇭 The Philippines · reviewed 2026-10-09
Trademarks and IP for franchisors in the Philippines
Every franchise agreement contains a trademark licence, and in the Philippines that licence only binds outsiders once it is on the record at IPOPHL. Register the mark early, record the licence, and keep the quality-control clauses the IP Code expects.
Licence recording
- A trademark licence must give the licensor effective control over the quality of the goods or services. Recording the licence with IPOPHL is voluntary, but under IP Code section 150.2 the licence has no effect against third parties until it is recorded; between the parties it remains valid. Secondary · Chambers Franchising 2025, Cruz Marcelo & Tenefrancia, 2025-01-01Official · RA 8293 (IP Code), Lawphil, 1997-06-06
Know-how and manuals
- Because a franchise agreement is a technology transfer arrangement, the licence of know-how and operating manuals is subject to the same banned and mandatory clauses. A no-contest clause on the franchisor's IP is one of the clauses section 87 presumes anti-competitive. Official · RA 8293 (IP Code), Lawphil, 1997-06-06
Checklist before you sign a Philippine partner
- File the word mark and logo with IPOPHL in your own name, not the partner's, before brand talks become public.
- Record the trademark licence with IPOPHL once the agreement is signed, so it can be enforced against third parties.
- Keep the quality-control, inspection and manual-update rights in the agreement; they are what make the licence valid.
- Register local-language or Filipino versions of the brand name if you plan to use them on menus or signage.
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