Alt Legal Absorbs TM Cloud Customers: A Consolidation in Trademark Docketing Software?

The world of trademark docketing software just experienced a major disruption. Alt Legal, a major name in automated trademark docketing, has acquired the customer base of its competitor TM Cloud. This development is raising important questions for IP professionals in the Philippines who depend on streamlined and reliable docketing systems tied to IPOPHL (Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines) requirements.

Here’s how this shakeup might affect local trademark professionals—and what protections exist under Philippine law, particularly through IPOPHL.

TM Cloud Users: What to Expect with Alt Legal

TM Cloud customers are being transitioned to Alt Legal’s platform. In U.S. markets, Alt Legal is known for integrating docketing automation—but that’s not relevant for the Philippines.

What matters for local users is whether Alt Legal will support IPOPHL-specific compliance, including:

• Mandatory online filing via eTMFile for trademarks.
• IPOPHL deadlines such as submission of Declarations of Actual Use (DAU) at specific intervals (e.g., 3 years from filing, and every 5 years thereafter).
• Compliance with IPOPHL publication requirements and opposition periods through the Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA).

Note: Any system lacking Philippine-specific workflows could risk procedural gaps, such as missing IPOPHL's DAU or failure to track publication in the IP E-Gazette.

Why Did Alt Legal Acquire TM Cloud?

This acquisition is Alt Legal’s fourth, giving it a larger international footprint. For the Philippine market, however, such global expansions only matter if their systems integrate local regulations like those governed by IPOPHL.

Currently, there is no public confirmation that Alt Legal integrates Philippine trademark deadlines or that it is optimized for IPOPHL’s eDocFile or BLA dispute workflows.

Real-World Implications for IP Professionals in the Philippines

Pros:

• Potential access to a consolidated platform.
• More robust automation tools if adapted for IPOPHL.

Cons:

• Lack of IPOPHL integration may result in compliance failure.
• Local law firms like Brealant, Hechanova, and Federis typically use in-house or Philippine-specific docketing tools. Shifting to a foreign system could disrupt workflow.
• Copyright concerns: Philippine copyright law mandates proper tracking of use, including public performance, broadcast, and online distribution. A system optimized for U.S. copyright might misalign with IPOPHL requirements like those outlined in the Copyright Registration and Deposit procedures.

Case Study: Failure to File DAU and Loss of Trademark

One example from IPOPHL’s own case records involves a registrant who failed to file their DAU within the 3-year deadline. Despite using a global docketing system, they missed the IPOPHL-specific reminder, and their mark was automatically canceled. This reinforces that IPOPHL compliance is not optional, and tracking those dates is critical.

What About Copyright Holders?

For copyright holders in the Philippines, the stakes are equally high. Registration is not required for copyright to exist, but if you want to enforce rights, the Certificate of Registration and Deposit (CRD) from IPOPHL is essential.

A robust docketing system should:

• Track CRD application status.
• Alert users for renewals or potential enforcement periods.
• Support evidence gathering in infringement cases, which can include digital usage, broadcast records, or streaming metadata.

Without IPOPHL integration, copyright professionals risk missing deadlines or lacking documentation for enforcement.

Summary: What You Should Do

Whether you're a TM Cloud customer or just watching from the sidelines, consider:

• Staying with a platform built for the Philippine IP environment, or one supported by local firms like Brealant.
• Evaluating the system’s ability to support IPOPHL trademarks and copyright, including DAU, opposition, BLA dispute timelines, and CRD filings.
• Using local agents—required if you're a foreigner—to ensure compliance with Philippine laws.

Final Thoughts

The future of trademark docketing in the Philippines may lie not in consolidation, but in local adaptation. As IPOPHL continues to modernize with systems like eTMFile, local compliance—not global integration—should remain the top priority.

At Brealant Inc., we’re closely monitoring these shifts and ready to support Philippine IP owners through IPOPHL-compliant tools and strategies.

Let us know—are you a TM Cloud user in transition? What features matter most for IPOPHL compliance? Let’s talk in the comments.

‍