Philippines at the Forefront of Global Intellectual Property Leadership

GENEVA 24 July 2025 — The Philippines achieved a significant milestone at the  Sixty-Sixth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property  Organization (WIPO), held from 08 to 17 July 2025 at the WIPO Headquarters in Geneva,  Switzerland.  

Following eight days of high level discussions and negotiations, the Assemblies and other  bodies of WIPO elected their respective officers, with the Philippines being elected to two key  leadership roles. Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta, Philippine Permanent Representative to the  United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, was elected as Chair of the  WIPO General Assembly for a period of two years from 2026 to 2027. This role places  Ambassador Sorreta at the helm of WIPO’s highest policy-making body, overseeing critical  deliberations on the global intellectual property system. 

Meanwhile, Director-General Brigitte Da Costa-Villaluz of the Intellectual Property Office of  the Philippines (IPOPHL) was also elected as Vice-Chair of the Marrakesh Treaty Assembly.  Her role will support efforts to facilitate global access to published works for persons who are  blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print-disabled, a mission at the heart of the Treaty through inclusive copyright exceptions. 

The WIPO Assemblies bring together 22 bodies representing member states and  administered Unions, serving as a forum for reviewing organizational progress and shaping  future intellectual property policy. The Philippines’ dual appointments underscore its growing  influence in global IP governance and commitment to equitable and innovative solutions for  all. Strong legal protection for IP is vital for national development as it encourages innovation,  safeguards against exploitation, and attracts investors who value strong legal protections and  adherence to global IP standards. For the Philippines, this means ensuring the protection of  our tech and software creators, creative industries, our cultural and indigenous knowledge and designs, as well as the genetic material in our rich and diverse natural spaces. END

For more information, visit https://www.genevapm.dfa.gov.ph,  https://www.facebook.com/PHinGeneva/ or https://www.instagram.com/phingeneva/.