Various groups back special court for intellectual property violators

MANILA, Philippines – Various groups have expressed support for the creation of a special court that will try intellectual property (IP) violations.

IP-dedicated courts are seen to fast track the resolution of IP-related cases with judges having more time to hear IP violations.

Letters expressing support to the planned special IP Court have been submitted to Chief Justice Reynato Puno by various stakeholders.

 In a letter to Puno, the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP) said they welcome the establishment of a Special IP Court as it can spur the local copyright-based industries, which employ more than 300,000 Filipinos.

BDAP president, Lirio Sandoval, speaking on behalf of the 85 members of the organization, said that “together with the Supreme Court, BDAP believes that protecting and promoting our nation’s IP is one of the keys to our economic development.”

Likewise, the Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society Inc. (FILCOLS), the country’s first collection management organization, said that the local copyright industry can flourish through vigorous protection and promotion of the country’s IP assets.

In late 2008, Puno, in his speech at the Second Advance Course on Intellectual Property Law (IP Law), took notice of the growing number of IP-related cases filed in various courts around the country and encouraged IP Philippines to review all existing rules of procedure and “to suggest ways to improve them to suit the substantive and procedural aspects of IP litigation.”

According to the high court chief, “administratively, if focusing our interventions on just one or a few specific courts would work better to yield satisfactory results, then we can make the adjustments — perhaps on a pilot basis at the start.”

IP Philippines partnered with the SC’s education and training arm, the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), as part of its capacity building or continuing training for commercial court judges on intellectual property.

In 2006, IP Philippines and PHILJA launched the first advanced course in IP for judges. The following year, IP Philippines facilitated international IP training programs for two commercial court judges; six Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors; and one PHILJA counsel. Last year, the second advance course on Intellectual Property Law (IP Law) was conducted as a venue to discuss legal issues concerning intellectual property litigation. –Ma. Elisa P. Osorio, Philippine Star