As one of the clear leaders in patent litigation and trade mark work, ACCRA Law Offices has been pushing ahead this year in patent prosecution – previously its weakest practice area. Led by the revered Alex Fider, the team actively contacts local universities and inventors to secure patent applications and consults on the new Philippine Technology Transfer Act. While the firm has also shown its understanding of Philippines IP law, Fider also shone this year in the firm's traditional strength of trade marks.
In July 2010, ACCRA obtained a favourable decision in an opposition case for US Polo Association (USPA) against Ramesh Mirpuri, as Mirpuri's 3 Polo Players on a Horse Logo mark is confusingly similar to USPA's Device of Two Polo Players mark. The case introduced a new concept for comparing competing marks: that the idea or the concept manifested in the visual representations in the mark must be considered. "Fider is excellent and a pleasure to work with," says one client. "He staffs our work sufficiently so that we are certain the work is being handled in a timely fashion." The team's other clients include San Miguel, Hershey's Chocolate & Confectionery and Estée Lauder Group. "The service is timely, thorough, and courteous," notes a US in-house lawyer.