iii. Forfeiture of Real Property

Bureau of Legal Affairs and Intellectual Property Enforcement

The Bureau of Legal Affairs is vested with the authority to hear and decide oppositions to trademark registration applications, cancellations of trademarks, cancellations of patents, utility models, and industrial designs subject to the provisions of Section 64, and petitions for compulsory licensing of patents¹.

It also exercises original jurisdiction over administrative complaints involving violations of laws concerning intellectual property rights, provided the total damages claimed are not less than Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000)¹. In the course of such proceedings, the Director of Legal Affairs has the power to grant provisional remedies under the Rules of Court and to hold in contempt and punish any person who disregards orders or writs issued by the office¹.

After formal investigation, the Director of Legal Affairs may impose administrative penalties, including issuing a cease and desist order that mandates the respondent to halt specified acts and submit a compliance report, or accepting a voluntary assurance of compliance or discontinuance¹.