IPOPHIL seizures lessen counterfeit goods in market

MANILA, Philippines - The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) has minimized the entry of imported pirated materials, resulting in less counterfeit items to seize this year.

In an interview, IPOPHIL director general Roberto Blancaflor said IPOPHIL together with their partner agencies were able to guard the airports and seaports better therefore minimizing the entry of counterfeit items.

“Mostly, the counterfeit items are imported,” Blancaflor said. “This is a good step in the right direction.”

Blancaflor said that after removing pirated DVDs in Quiapo last year, they were also successful in ridding Greenhills Shopping center of blatant displays of fake products. The Greenhills Shopping Center is a known haven for fake goods.

The next area they are targeting to clean up are Makati and Mandaluyong. In Mandaluyong, Blancaflor said they are already in talks with the management of the St Francis Square. Also, by the end of the month the pirated DVDs in Metrowalk will be removed.

IPOPHIL had previously reported that the total value of seized counterfeit and pirated products or replicas of popular brands hit P 8.384 billion in 2011. IPOPHIL said that this is just one area in IP enforcement where respect for IP can be cultivated.

Blancaflor said the 2011 record increased by 58.33 percent from the 2010 estimated value of P5.295 billion. The 2011 seizure report is the highest ever in the country’s history.

Blancaflor attributed the remarkable performance to the concerted efforts of the members of the National Committee of Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR). Topping the 2011 enforcement operations of the NCIPR were the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Optical Media Board (OMB).

The other NCIPR members involved in enforcement operations are the Philippine National Police (PNP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Based on the agency’s enforcement data, among the brands, Louis Vuittons had the highest estimated value of seized items. Also notable in value are Rayban eyeglasses, Chanel bag, Bulgari and Omega products.

IPOPHL remains committed in strengthening the protection and enforcement of the IP system so that it can be a tool for economic development. IPOPHL is bent on implementing the programs and projects that are indicated in the 2012-2016 Philippine Action Plan on IP Protection and Enforcement that was presented to the Office of the President during the First Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit in October 2011.

The action plan will enhance existing programs on IP education and awareness, capability-building for relevant institutions and groups, expanding border control measures in more regions, speedy and quality disposition of IPR cases, policy advocacy, pushing pending legislative bills, domestic and international partnerships, strengthen coordinating mechanisms; reconfigure enforcement tools and mechanisms to keep pace with advancements in technology; and endeavor to fill in the gaps on IPR enforcement operations like focusing attention on establishing a sense of “permanency” within the NCIPR membership and IPR units in government agencies.