SC cuts time frame for copyright cases

The Supreme Court has shortened the time frame within which courts should resolve cases involving intellectual property (IP) rights disputes. In the 2020 Revised Rules of Procedure for Intellectual Property Rights Cases launched on Wednesday, the high court required courts to resolve such cases within 60 calendar days from the original 90 calendar days. The new rules were approved by the Supreme Court on Oct. 6 and became enforceable on Nov. 16. He added that many of the salient amendments in the rules on IP rights cases are similar to and reiteration of revisions in the rules of civil procedure, on evidence, and guidelines for continuous trial in criminal cases. The new rules also allowed the use of teleconferencing or videoconferencing in the taking of depositions and other modes of discovery. Supreme Court spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka said the revision is in line with Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta’s objective to continuously revise the Rules of Court to ensure the more efficient administration of justice and a faster resolution of cases. —TINA G. SANTOS