Lobby groups blamed for watchlist

The government’s top anti-piracy official said powerful lobby groups in Washington are to blame for the country’s retention in the watch list of the United States Trade Representative on copyright piracy.

“The decision of the USTR comes as no suprise. Progress in promoting respect for intellectual property rights in the country has been substantial, but pressure from powerful lobby groups in Washington, with unreasonable demands, kept us on the watch list,” said Adrian Cristobal Jr., director-general of Intellectual Property Philippines.

The USTR will conduct another review to monitor government’s efforts in addressing areas of concern in the 2009 Special 301 Report.

The report included the Philippines among 33 countries in the lower watch list.

The Philippines was bracketed along with Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Jamaica, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietam.

The Special 301 Report is an annual review undertaken by the USTR, which identifies countries that deny adequate and effective intellectual property protection.

Countries falling under the priority watch list are those that do not provide adequate IPR enforcement, while those in the list where the Philippine fails since 2006 require bilateral attention to address piracy problems.

This year’s report on the Philippines cites amendments to the patent revisions in the Philippines’ IP Law as they apply to pharmaceuticals as “troubling”.

Cristobal said all provisions to the Cheaper Medicines Law “have been deliberate to primarily benefit the Filipinos more than any other foreign interest.”

As for the challenges in enforcement, he said action plans had been drawn since last year, and that various steps wete continuously undertaken by IP Philippines, in partnership with various government and private sector organizations, to address the many components that constitute a strong and balanced Philippine IP system.

“What is important is that the government continues its strategic thrust of promoting creativity and innovation in the country through the IP system,” said Cristobal.

He said national IP programs had raised awareness on the importance of the IP system among investors and scientists, artists and the creative sector, universities and research and development institutions and enterpreneurs.

“The increase in patent filings in the IP office, the increase in universities with IP policies, and the growth of copyright licensing organizations for artists are proof of gains in using IP for national development,” said Cristobal.

He said these factors were important in nurturing a stronger and more balanced IP system, especially for utilizing IP for national development. However, these are not considered by the USTR.–Elaine Ramos Alanguilan, Manila Standard Today