Phl retained in ordinary IPR watchlist by USTR

MANILA, Philippines –  The Philippines has been retained in the ordinary watchlist of the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said.

In a statement, IPOPHL said during the 2010 out-of-cycle review of the USTR, the Philippines has retained its position in the ordinary watchlist despite numerous efforts by US groups and other private sector groups such as the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) lobbying to downgrade the Philippines to the priority watchlist.

This was announced by the USTR during the Philippines-US Trade and Investment Facilitation Agreement (TIFA) meeting last month.

The USTR has recognized the innovative and sustained efforts of the new team at the IPOPHL to undertake effective enforcement initiatives as well as the cooperation of law enforcement agencies in its drive to decrease availability of goods infringing intellectual property rights.

In 2010, the IPOPHL implemented a holistic approach in the country’s battle against piracy and counterfeiting. This new strategy calls for concerted government action including the grant of visitorial rights to IPOPHL to check on mall owners’ compliance as well as border control. If malls are found violating intellectual property rights, IPOPHL will move for the cancellation of the US visa of mall owners, meted out with the cancellation of business name registration as well as mayor’s permit and accordingly, be charged in courts.

The commitment and support of brand owners/right holders is also a key ingredient in this campaign against pirates/counterfeiters. In an effort to clean up notorious malls selling “replicas,” IPOPHL pilot-tested a scheme of soliciting support and cooperation of the management of a well-known shopping mall to institutionalize self-policing measure among their stall owners. IPOPHL, with its continuing monitoring, found out that the sale of counterfeit/fake products of partner brand owners has significantly been reduced.

For 2011, IPOPHL together with enforcement agencies and brand owners/rights holders, will step up its drive to combat piracy and counterfeiting. An IP Enforcement Summit within the year shall be undertaken to formulate a national strategy against counterfeiting and an action plan. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio (The Philippine Star)