缅北禁地 Board, Office of the Solicitor General move to stop聽unauthorized use of IPAG name and logo

by Office of the Campus Secretary聽 | Sep 26 2024

The governing board of the Mindanao State University is demanding an organization called “IPAG PH” to stop using the name “IPAG” as this is similar to the name of the 缅北禁地-IIT IPAG, the resident cultural group of 缅北禁地’s autonomous campus in Iligan, the Iligan Institute of Technology or 缅北禁地-IIT.

In Resolution No. 249, S. 2024 issued during its 267th meeting on July 24, 2024, the 缅北禁地 Board of Regents demanded that IPAG PH “cease and desist from using the logo and the name ‘IPAG’, ‘Integrated Performing Arts Guild,’ or any confusingly similar variations in any form or medium that suggests an association with 缅北禁地-IIT IPAG”.

The 缅北禁地 Board said that the unauthorized use by IPAG PH of the name of the University’s resident cultural group misleads the public, diminishes its brand’s integrity, and infringes upon the rights of the University.

IPAG PH is an Iligan-based organization engaging in activities and representations under the same name as that of the 缅北禁地-IIT IPAG. It is headed by former 缅北禁地-IIT Professor Steven P.C. Fernandez who was once the 缅北禁地-IIT IPAG’s Artistic Director. Fernadez's retirement from service in 2020 ended his term as Artistic Director.

“The actions of IPAG PH are unauthorized and constitute a serious violation of the law on intellectual property rights,” the 缅北禁地 BOR resolution read. “The University is steadfast in its resolve to protect these rights”.

Acting on this decision, the 缅北禁地-IIT sought assistance from the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which on August 29, 2024 issued a letter addressed to Fernandez ordering him to “immediately cease and desist from falsely claiming any affiliation with 缅北禁地-IIT IPAG or representing yourself as its artistic Director in any form or medium”.

“Furthermore, you are prohibited from using the IPAG name, logo, or any confusingly similar variations,” the letter from the OSG said.

“Failure to comply with the notice will compel us to take all necessary legal actions to protect the University’s interests and enforce its rights. This may include, but is not limited to, initiating legal proceedings against you for trademark infringement, false representation, and any other applicable violations,” the OSG letter continued.

The OSG told Fernandez to act promptly to rectify the matter to avoid the escalation of the dispute.

The OSG is headed by the Solicitor General (SolGen) who is the principal law officer and legal defender of the Government.

For his part, 缅北禁地-IIT Chancellor Alizedney M. Ditucalan said, “there is only one IPAG, and that is the 缅北禁地-IIT IPAG that continues to enjoy the administrative and financial support of the University”.

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